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Western stays perfect in Summit League play with 58-39 victory over Southern Utah

February 3, 2008 on 8:56 pm | In Athletics |

CEDAR CITY, Utah Senior Gina Hugelier tallied 15 points in the final 20 minutes of the play to help the Western Illinois women’s basketball team to a come from behind victory over Southern Utah, 58-39, at Centrum Arena.

Hugelier ended the game with a season-high 23 points and a career-high 11 rebounds for her first double-double of the season. Fellow senior Stephanie Lovingood garnered her third double-double of the year with 12 points and 14 rebounds.

The Westerwinds (5-9, 3-0 The Summit League) opened the second half of play trading baskets with the Thunderbirds (3-12, 1-3 The Summit League). Junior Katy Davenport then garnered her first points of the game with a three-point shot to tie the game at 23.

Three and half minutes later Western earned its first lead of the game (28-25) when Hugelier hit a shot from beyond the arc. The points were the first of seven straight for the Elmhurst, Ill., native as she helped the Westerwinds start a 9-1 run to pull ahead 37-28 advantage.

Western ended the game with strong defense, holding Southern Utah to just four points in the final six minutes of the game. The Westerwinds went on the offensive netting 15 points during the same span to earn the victory.

The Thunderbirds opened the game with a steal by Erin Heuett on the opening possession and started a 4-0 run in the opening 2:30 of the game. The Westerwinds got on the board with 17:21 remaining in the first half when Lovingood netted the first of four-straight points for Western.

Southern Utah then started a 10-3 run with 13:30 remaining in the first half that lasted for five minutes to gain a 16-7 lead. The Westerwinds then started a 9-0 run of their own to pull back within two points (16-14). Western then cut the lead to one point (19-18) before the teams headed to the locker room.

For the second time this season the Westerwinds tallied more offensive rebounds than defensive (21-20) and out-rebounded the Thunderbirds 41-29. Western turned around its game in the second half as they recorded only one turnover in the second 20 minutes to 10 in the first half.

Notes: The Southern Utah bench was called for a technical foul with 15:30 remaining in the first half…Lovingood tallied six of the Westerwinds first seven points…Davenport tallied all 15 of her points in the second half of play…Western tallied 20 of its points off turnovers.

Originaly from Source