By JOHN BOHNENKAMP

MACOMB, Ill. — Allie Meadows knew it was a big deal that Western Illinois was going to the NCAA women’s basketball tournament.

Then the senior guard saw just how much it meant for the community.

“We got standing ovations when we walked into class,” Meadows said, smiling. “It was unbelievable.”

The Leathernecks, who shared the Ohio Valley Conference regular-season title before winning the conference tournament, are in the NCAA tournament for the third time in program history — they’re a 13 seed in Fort Worth Regional 1 and will play at fourth seed North Carolina at 4:30 p.m. (CDT) Friday.

It’s the second time coach JD Gravina has taken the Leathernecks to the tournament — the first time was in 2017 — and he understands the impact of getting to play on such a big stage.

“Things sometimes can be hard around Western Illinois and around Macomb,” Gravina said. “So when you have something like this, that kind of lifts up the whole community, I think it makes it more rewarding. Nothing comes easy for us here, and so it means everything. We went back in 2017, and then after a while, I wondered if I would get the chance to do it again. So to get a chance to do it again is awesome.”

“It’s just exciting times for everyone,” senior guard Addi Brownfield said. “It’s been really special to see all the community kind of rally behind us and support us through everything, through the tournament, through Selection Sunday and as we go into the tournament. So I’m just excited to have the opportunity to play on the national stage.”

Gravina said the community reaction has been “almost overwhelming.”

“The usual people that are always here and supportive, they’re all excited,” Gravina said. “ then you have random people that maybe hadn’t followed us all year. That’s why I said our bandwagon is wide open. If all of Macomb jumps on it, that doesn’t bother me at all. In fact, I love when someone that maybe doesn’t follow it talks to me about making the NCAA tournament or that sort of thing.”

Senior forward Mia Nicastro, who transferred from Saint Louis after the 2023-24 season, thought back to the regular-season finale at Western Hall, a 50-49 loss to Lindenwood on February 28 when 1,657 fans showed up.

“I was just kind of looking around and I mean, it was packed, the most people I’ve ever seen in Western Hall,” Nicastro said. “And I think it was just really kind of just a testament to what we’ve done here and what we’ve built here. It’s a special thing to bring so many people together in support of a team, especially a women’s basketball team. So I’m just so proud of everyone, for just all my teammates building that here and believing that we can do that here.

“And then I’m just so grateful for the community members who have rallied behind us all season, who have been our biggest supporters, and it just makes it so much easier to do what we do, and we have such such support from everyone around us, people that genuinely care about what we do.”

The Leathernecks’ 71-65 win over Lindenwood on March 7 in the OVC Tournament championship game gave them the automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament, the first team into the 68-team field. But they had to wait until Sunday’s selection show on ESPN to find out where they were going.

It didn’t take long — Western Illinois was the eighth team announced on the bracket reveal, touching off a celebration in Western Hall for the players and fans gathered to watch the selection show.

“Such a cool moment,” Nicastro said. “Just genuine excitement and joy. Being able to experience that with my teammates and the community, it’s something I won’t forget.”

“I couldn’t stop smiling for the rest of the night,” Brownfield said. “I was up until midnight that night, just so excited and so amped up.”

Gravina knows the attention that can come with an NCAA tournament bid, especially for Nicastro, who is the leading scorer among seniors nationally while ranking fourth overall.

“We were at Buffalo Wild Wings last night, and they had ESPN on, and our name popped up and they were talking about Mia,” Gravina said. “I think that that’s huge for our university, really. And it helps having Mia, who is right there among the best players in the country in scoring.  And so that kind of gives us some additional coverage. I think all that stuff really helps, and it’s just fun for the players. When you’re at the Division I level, it’s fun for the players to receive that kind of attention.”

It’s a moment that is especially big for Brownfield and Meadows, who have been with the program for all four seasons of their college careers.

“I have wanted this since my freshman year of college, and now that I finally get to do it with my best friends, I couldn’t ask for anything more,” Meadows said.

“It’s really exciting overall, but maybe a little bit sad knowing that we only have a week or so left of our basketball careers coming to an end,” Brownfield said. “But, I mean, what a great way to go out.”

Nicastro will be making her second NCAA tournament appearance — she played in the tournament as a freshman at Saint Louis.

“I remember going out to midcourt at the start of the game, shaking hands with the other team, and then looking around and taking it all in. I guess that would be my advice to everyone — don’t take this for granted. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so enjoy it.”

“I will say that this has been the end goal for me since our freshman year,” Meadows said. “We’ve talked about it so much, so the fact that I know that I can end my career being a part of March Madness is just the cherry on top for me. Win of lose, that’s not going to affect me, because this was the end-all.”

“It’s bittersweet,” Brownfield said. “You know, basketball has been part of our lives for 20 years, and to see it coming to an end. It’s definitely sad, but you also aren’t sad about it at the same time, because you get to play in freaking March Madness. So it’s just such a great ending.

“You know, you couldn’t draw it up better than this.”

Photo: Western Illinois coach JD Gravina encourages his team during the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament championship game. (Ohio Valley Conference photo)