By JOHN BOHNENKAMP

MACOMB, Ill. — Western Illinois is alone at the top of the Ohio Valley Conference women’s basketball standings, which is why coach JD Gravina challenged his team before Saturday’s game against UT-Martin at Western Hall.

The 80-54 win was a sign the Leathernecks accepted the challenge.

Six Western Illinois players scored in double figures, led by Mia Nicastro’s 22 points. The Leathernecks shot 50.8% for the game — 55.6% in the first three quarters — and committed just six turnovers.

“We played at a championship level, and that’s what I kind of challenged them to do before the game,” Gravina said, “and we pretty much played it for 40 minutes.”

“I think we kind of came into this game with a little bit of extra motivation,” said Nicastro, who topped the 1,000-point mark as a Leatherneck in the first half. “I think we really rose to the challenge of playing at that championship level. We know we need to play that way when conference tournament time comes, kind of just with that chip on our shoulder. And I think that’s exactly what we did. I think we did exactly what JD asked us to in terms of toughness and our mentality.”

“With the second half of conference starting, the conference tournament is slowly approaching us, so we’re just already being in that mindset, treating each game with, like you said, a championship mindset,” said guard Addi Brownfield, who had 11 points. “So it was really fun to come out here and do that tonight.”

Western Illinois (18-3 overall, 10-2 OVC) led 47-27 at halftime and kept building on that in the second half. The Leathernecks’ biggest lead was 77-47 with 4 1/2 minutes to play.

“If you have any game where there’s six players in double figures, you’re going to win,” Nicastro said. “That’s hard to defend. So I’m just really proud of everyone for playing their role. I think today, we just moved the ball so well. We played such unselfish basketball. But that’s when we’re at our best.”

Gravina used a six-player rotation until early in the fourth quarter. Besides Nicastro and Brownfield in double figures, Allie Meadows and Kaylen Reed each had 12 points, and Mallory Shetley and Madison Davis each had 10.

“I just think having six in double figures shows that we have threats all around,” Brownfield said. “You know, any given night, anyone can step up and score for us. And I think it also shows just how unselfish this team is. The box score doesn’t matter to us. We’re going to move the ball because we all know we’re offensive threats that can knock down any given shot.”

“Very well-rounded,” Gravina said. “Teams are going to key on Mia, and when we’re playing like this, that’s hard to do. When we play like that, we’re awfully tough.”

Nicastro, who came into the game ranked fourth in NCAA Division I play in scoring at 23.6 points per game, had scored her 1,000th career point when the Leathernecks played at UT-Martin. Nicastro, who played two seasons at Saint Louis before transferring to Western Illinois after the 2023-24 season, became the 23rd player to do it within the program as well.

“That’s really important to me, and I think it’s important to her, too,” Gravina said. “Getting 1,000 in a career is a milestone, but also to do it in two seasons here, that’s a huge accomplishment. And I think it kind of solidifies, not that there was any doubt, what she’s done here. You just see so many transfers that are kind of mercenaries, one-and-done types. She’s had a career here, and that means a lot.”

“I think that just means everything,” Brownfield said. “It’s so cool how she was able to pull herself out of a bad situation and find her true home here, and really just contribute to this program, give her all to this program. So I’m so happy for her.”

“So cool, but I’m glad I got to experience it on a day where just everyone was playing so well,” Nicastro said. “And we were just playing such good basketball. So yeah, a lot of fun all-around today.”

Photo: Western Illinois’ Mia Nicastro deals with UT-Martin’s defense in Saturday’s game. (WIU Athletic Communications)