By JOHN BOHNENKAMP MACOMB, Ill. — Western Illinois’ women’s basketball team clinched its spot in the Ohio Valley Conference tournament with Thursday’s 64-54 win over Eastern Illinois at Western Hall. Not that it was really a concern the Leathernecks weren’t … Continue reading WIU 64, EASTERN ILLINOIS 54: Leathernecks Bounce Back, Take Down A Top OVC Team
By JOHN BOHNENKAMP MACOMB, Ill. — Western Illinois is winning close home games. It’s a little late when it comes to the Ohio Valley Conference standings, but it comes at a perfect time in the schedule. The Leathernecks made a … Continue reading WIU 70, EASTERN ILLINOIS 66: Leathernecks Finally Winning Close Home Games
By JOHN BOHNENKAMP Western Illinois freshman guard Raegan McCowan was named the Ohio Valley Conference’s women’s basketball player of the week and freshman of the week on Tuesday, bringing her total of weekly awards in the conference to 16 for … Continue reading WIU’s McCowan Adds Two OVC Weekly Awards
By JOHN BOHNENKAMP MACOMB, Ill. — Western Illinois’ women’s basketball team played two overtime games in three days, and didn’t win either. The Leathernecks, though, hope they can take some positives away, especially after Saturday’s 96-89 loss to Southern Indiana at Western Hall. Western Illinois (16-11 overall, 7-9 Ohio Valley Conference) lost in double overtime on Thursday to Morehead State, then fell in one overtime to the Screaming Eagles (20-6, 15-1) the OVC’s regular-season champion. “This is probably the most frustrating, even compared to Thursday,” said Western Illinois guard Raegan McCowan, who had 45 points and eight rebounds. “It probably … Continue reading SOUTHERN INDIANA 96, WIU 89: Leathernecks Look For Positives After Another OT Loss
By JOHN BOHNENKAMP MACOMB, Ill. — Western Illinois was playing Morehead State on Thursday night with a chance to take the lead in the Ohio Valley Conference men’s basketball standings at the start of a four-game homestand to close the … Continue reading MOREHEAD STATE 78, WIU 57: Home Loss Puts Big Dent In Leathernecks’ Title Hopes
By JOHN BOHNENKAMP MACOMB, Ill. — The lament after Western Illinois’ 87-85 double-overtime loss to Morehead State on Thursday night wasn’t about how the Leathernecks finished. It was more about the start. Western Illinois scored just 16 first-half points, fell behind by 17 points twice in the third quarter, then had a furious comeback to force both overtimes. “You can’t play three really poor quarters of basketball,” Western Illinois coach JD Gravina said. The Leathernecks opened a four-game home stretch to close the regular season with a chance to make a run to at least getting a bye in the … Continue reading MOREHEAD STATE 87, WIU 85: Slow Start Dooms Leathernecks In Double-OT Loss
By JOHN BOHNENKAMP Morehead State’s three-game losing streak has created quite the traffic jam at the top of the Ohio Valley Conference men’s basketball standings. And it’s given Western Illinois a chance to win the regular-season title in its first … Continue reading Leathernecks Start Home Stretch With Shot At OVC Title
By JOHN BOHNENKAMP MACOMB, Ill. — JD Gravina’s voice could be heard over the music playing as he talked to his players during a replay review that wasn’t going to go his team’s way.. Western Illinois’ women’s basketball team had … Continue reading WIU 71, UT-MARTIN 61: Leathernecks Get The Message In Win
By JOHN BOHNENKAMP MACOMB, Ill. — The schedule heading into this weekend seemed to favor Western Illinois in the Ohio Valley Conference men’s basketball race. The Leathernecks were going to get to play six of their last eight games at … Continue reading UT-MARTIN 62, WIU 59: Leathernecks’ Home Struggles Continue
By JOHN BOHNENKAMP MACOMB, Ill. — It didn’t take long for Western Illinois women’s basketball coach JD Gravina to figure out that Raegan McCowan could make a difference in his team. Granted, the first time Gravina saw McCowan play for … Continue reading McCowan’s Impressive Freshman Season Is ‘A Perfect Storm’
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