By JOHN BOHNENKAMP It didn’t take long, JD Gravina said, for the high of a championship season to wear off. Gravina’s Western Illinois women’s basketball team shared the Ohio Valley Conference regular-season title, then won the conference tournament to earn … Continue reading Gravina Sees A Big Picture For Leathernecks

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 … Continue reading Leathernecks Embrace NCAA Tournament Opportunity, And The Support That Comes With It

By JOHN BOHNENKAMP Western Illinois was one of 25 NCAA Division I women’s basketball teams to not have anyone enter the transfer portal after last season. It says everything, coach JD Gravina said, about the culture of the program, and … Continue reading THE MONDAY TIPOFF: Leathernecks Stick Together In The Portal Era, And Deliver A Championship

By JOHN BOHNENKAMP EVANSVILLE, Indiana — It was up to Mia Nicastro to carry the Ohio Valley Conference women’s basketball tournament championship trophy out of the post-game press conference. “It’s a little heavy,” said Nicastro, hobbled by a sprained ankle … Continue reading WESTERN ILLINOIS 71, LINDENWOOD 65: The Final Prizes They Wanted