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Western to play final home game in 2007 against Robert Morris

January 10, 2008 on 9:20 pm | In Athletics |

MACOMB, Ill. - The Western Illinois women’s basketball team and Robert Morris face off on Waste Management Court at Western Hall for the Westerwinds’ final home game during the 2007 portion of the 2007-08 season, Sunday, December 16 at 2 p.m.

About Robert Morris
The Lady Eagles are 5-5 heading into this weekend’s competition. Robert Morris faces Quincy, Friday, December 14 before traveling to Macomb for Sunday’s game with Western. The team is led by Janesha Washington, who is one of three players averaging double-digit points. Washington averages 15.1 points while shooting 51.6 percent (64-124) from the floor. She had a season high 35 points in the Lady Eagles’ 67-70 loss to Wisconsin-Parkside.

Jessica Harris and Chanel Jones-Delas are the other two players for Robert Morris that are averaging over 10 points per game, with 12.6 and 10.9, respectively.

As a team the Lady Eagles are shooting 42.0 percent (277-660) this season. Of the 14 members of the 2007-08 roster, only three are shooting under 30.0 percent for the year.

Defensively the team forces 24.7 turnovers per game while recording 14.3 steals per contest.

The Series
Robert Morris is one of four teams that the Westerwinds will face for the first time in school history during the 2007-08 season. The other three teams are the new members of The Summit League (North Dakota State, South Dakota State, IPFW).

Super Seniors
The senior class for the Westerwinds has been stepping up in the last three games. Gina Hugelier has led the team in scoring, with 13, 18 and 18 points. Stephanie Lovingood has been right behind her with 10,14, and 10 points in the last three outings.

Senior Samantha Quigle may not be scoring double-digit points in Western’s games, but she has been setting season and career-highs and seeing more playing time than a season ago. The Colchester, Ill., native has tied career-highs for points (4) and assists (2) while setting new bests in three-point field goal percentage (.500 (1-2)) and steals (2).

The three seniors have contributed 87 of Western’s 173 points in the last three games. The trio has also accounted for 37 of the Westerwinds’ 97 rebounds.

Career Night
Hugelier and junior Amanda Walker each set new career bests during the Westerwinds’ 53-43 victory over IUPUI. Hugelier tallied a new career-high with five steals, while tying a season high with 18 points.

Walker dished out a career best six assists in the game against the Jaguars. The night also saw Lovingood record her second double-double of the season (10 points-12 rebounds).

Among the Nations Best
Western ranks 40th in the nation and leads the league in three-point field goal percentage. The Westerwinds have connected on 36.8 percent of their shots from beyond the arc.

Lovingood is currently 56th in the country with her 9.0 rebounds per game. The number is also the best in the league. She also leads the conference in offensive rebounds per game (3.75).

Walker is the only other Western player on the national charts. She is ranked 25th is assist/turnover ratio (2.18).

On the Airwaves
This season all games can be heard live on WIUS 88.3 FM and on the internet at www.wiuathletics.com. Links to each broadcast are available on the women’s basketball “Schedule/Results” page. Click on the speaker to link to the broadcast. Play-by-play is provided by Ryan Thomas, while color commentary is added by Nick McCay.

All of Western’s home games have live stats available through www.wiuathletics.com. A link is provided on the women’s basketball “Schedule/Results” page. Click on the No. 1 to connect to the live stats.

New Teams; New Conference
On June 1, 2007 the Mid-Continent Conference officially changed its name to The Summit League. The conference name change also included the loss of Valparaiso University as a league member and the addition of IPFW, North Dakota State, and South Dakota State.

The addition of the new teams is set to increase the competitiveness among Summit League schools and in the Division I basketball ranks. Two of the new additions ended the 2006-07 season with RPI in the top 150 and above the top Mid-Con team (Oral Roberts-169). South Dakota State finished the year 25-6, with an RPI of 45, while North Dakota State had an RPI of 139 after finishing 14-11.

Up Next
The Westerwinds start a five-game road swing next week. The first stop will be in Normal, Ill., to battle with Illinois State, Wednesday, December 19 at 7:05 p.m. Western then heads to Iowa City to play Iowa, Friday, December 22 at 4 p.m. The team will then have 11 days off before it travels to Manhattan, Kan., for a 7 p.m. tip-off, January 2, 2008 against Kansas State.

Western Quick Sets
Sophomore Jordon O’Brien leads the conference in three-point field goal percentage (50.0)…the Westerwinds are 19-13 when playing a team for the first time since the 1998-99 season when head coach Leslie Crane started…the team is now 8-3 during the same span in the first conference game of the year…this is the final non-conference home game of the 2007-08 season.

Originaly from Source