By JOHN BOHNENKAMP

MACOMB, Ill. — Mia Nicastro came into Monday’s game as one of the top scorers in NCAA Division I play.

And then she went out and posted a double-double in Western Illinois’ 86-75 win over Chicago State at Western Hall.

Nicastro, who came into the game ranked tied for sixth nationally in scoring, had a 31-point, 16-rebound night, her second double-double in three games this season.

“I think it’s just not forcing things and taking what the defense gives me,” said Nicastro, a senior forward who is averaging 26.7 points and 11.7 rebounds to start the season. “I’ve been blessed with some awesome teammates who can get me the ball from anywhere on the court. So it’s just been finding the open space.”

“That’s just who she’s been,” Western Illinois coach JD Gravina said. “That’s who she’s been at practice, day in, day out. Just high efficiency. She can score inside, she can score outside. She can hit that mid-range, she rebounds really well. Overall, I mean, that’s what I expect out of Mia night in and night out, and she’s been doing it.”

Nicastro had eight of Western Illinois’ 10 points to start the game.

“For me, I do think it’s important to have that kind of start,” Nicastro said. “But I think it’s that way for anybody to build confidence — you see the ball go in a few times, it makes you feel good, especially when it’s the first few that go in.”

The Leathernecks (3-0) never trailed in the game, and built a 19-point lead in the third quarter before Chicago State (1-4) went on a 20-4 run that extended into the fourth quarter. Western Illinois was up 67-63 with 6:05 to play, then went on a 13-2 run to regain control.

“I was telling my team the year we went to the NCAA tournament (in 2017), we won on a buzzer-beater in Chicago State their place,” Gravina said. “And I told them, they’re good enough to beat us. They got some energy, they got aggressive. I thought we got soft and backed down to them in the second half, all the things that you don’t want to do in that situation. So I guess it’s good to have that early in the year — it’s a little bit frustrating, for sure, but nice to have to play a game where you got to kind of battle and grind, and that helps you moving forward.”

“I think they just were pretty clearly the aggressor there in that third quarter,” Nicastro said. “They really kind of took it to us. They were kind of attacking us on defense, being a little physical on rebounds. So I think we needed to be a little bit tougher throughout that stretch, and that’s how they kind of got themselves back in the game.”

Western Illinois hit 6 of 9 shots in the fourth quarter, and sealed the game by making 14 of 19 free throws in the quarter.

The Leathernecks held just a 36-34 rebounding edge.

“Rebounding-wise, I thought they were the aggressors,” Gravina said.

Raegan McCowan had 18 points for the Leathernecks. Allie Meadows added 10.

The Leathernecks play host to Bradley on Thursday night.

“They’re going to come in fired up, and we’re going to be fired up,” Gravina said. “It’s good scheduling to get a team like Bradley to come to Western Hall. I hope we have a great crowd for the game.”