Sport in world

Westerwinds open second round of league play against Southern Utah, Saturday

March 13, 2008 on 9:00 pm | In Athletics |

MACOMB, Ill. - The Western Illinois women’s basketball team continues a four-game home stand when Southern Utah comes to Macomb for a Saturday, February 2 match-up on Waste Management Court at Western Hall. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. as part of a double-header with the men’s team.

About Southern Utah
The Thunderbirds are 5-15 overall and 3-6 in The Summit League after earning two victories last weekend. Southern Utah started the weekend with a home-court victory over Oral Roberts, 52-49, and then finished it with a 67-49 win over Centenary.

The road has been tough for the Thunderbirds this season, as they have gone 0-10.

Anne Westwood is Southern Utah’s leader, with 11.3 points and 9.1 rebounds per game. Westwood’s rebounding performances have her ranked 51st in the nation and second in the conference standings. Her output has dropped slightly since the Westerwinds’ last meeting with the Thunderbirds when she was averaging a double-double (12 points and 10 rebounds). Westwood is also a strong shooter, with a 48.8 (79-162) shooting percentage on the season.

Caitlyn Sears has stepped up her output in the last three games for Southern Utah, leading the offensive charge with over 10 points in each contest.

The second half has seen better performances by the Thunderbirds. The team has recorded 568 of their 1,038 points in the second half, just under 100 more than their first half output (470).

Last Time Against the Thunderbirds
The Westerwinds improved their record against Southern Utah to 4-8 in Cedar City during their last meeting, January 7, when Western earned a come-from-behind victory, 58-39.

Senior Gina Hugelier lead the team with a season-high 23 points and a career-high 11 rebounds. Fellow senior Stephanie Lovingood recorded the Westerwinds’ second double-double of the evening with 12 points and 14 rebounds. Junior Katy Davenport also had a good night with 15 points of her own.

Western was down 19-18 heading into the locker room before regrouping and outscoring the Thunderbirds 40-20 in the second half, while shooting 48.4% to earn the victory.

Westwood led Southern Utah with 10 points and nine rebounds, while Aubrey Mackintosh netted 11 points.

The Series
The Westerwinds have a 16-8 record against Southern Utah in the all-time series. Western also owns a perfect 10-0 mark when playing in Macomb.

National Girls and Women in Sports Day
The Western Illinois Athletics Department will join Western Illinois University to celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day this Saturday. The theme for NGWSD 2008 is “All in.”

The public is invited to join WIU students, faculty, staff and alumni in meeting female student-athletes and coaches at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in Western Hall’s East Arena. Girls in third through eighth grades will be admitted to the game free of charge, and up to two adults accompanying each girl may purchase tickets at a discounted rate of $5 each.

Women players and coaches also will be recognized at halftime, along with volunteers from Campus Recreation, the Women’s Center, and members of student organizations from the departments of kinesiology and recreation, park and tourism administration (RPTA), who will provide resources and information about the importance of fitness, exercise, and sports.

NGWSD was established in 1986 to celebrate the achievements of girls and women in sports and to honor Flo Hyman, a member of the 1984 Olympic silver medal volleyball team who died suddenly while competing in Japan in 1986. The day also serves to recognize the positive influence of sports participation and the continuing struggle for equality and access for women in sports.

Summit League Game of the Week
Every Saturday during the league season, The Summit League has designated a game as The Summit League Game of the Week. Western’s game versus Southern Utah has been chosen as the Game of the Week for February 2.

Fans will have the opportunity to win Summit League promotional items during both the men’s and women’s games.

Crane Captures Milestone
With the Westerwinds 78-48 victory over Centenary, January 21, head coach Leslie Crane recorded her 100th conference victory. Crane currently has a 100-44 record against league opponents, and is the winningest (by league wins) active coach in The Summit League. Only Keith Freeman from Valparaiso (135-69) recorded more wins against league teams when the Crusaders were members of the conference.

Among the Nations Best (as of January 27)
Western ranks in the top-100 in the country in seven statistical categories. The Westerwinds are ranked 26th in the nation and lead the league in three-point field goal percentage. Western has connected on 37.4 percent of its shots from beyond the arc.

The Westerwinds are also ranked 31st in personal fouls (14.7), 32nd in free throw percentage (74.4), 75th in scoring defense (60.1), 78th in assist/turnover ratio (0.85), 81st in turnovers (16.8), and 99th in assists (14.2).

Junior Amanda Walker is currently the only Western player on the national charts. She is ranked 16th in assist/turnover ratio (2.19).

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

All home and conference road games are broadcast through Summit TV (www.thesummitleague.org).

Up Next
Western concludes its four-game home stand against UMKC, Monday, February 4. The Kangaroos and the Westerwinds battle at 7 p.m. on Waste Management Court at Western Hall before Western returns to the road to face South Dakota State and North Dakota State (February 9 & 11).

Western Quick Sets
IPFW was one of four teams that Western had not faced prior to the 2007-08 season and the only one of those teams that the Westerwinds fell to…the other three teams were Robert Morris (W, 77-63), North Dakota State (W, 72-67), and South Dakota State (W, 67-60)…all four of the first meetings were played on Waste Management Court at Western Hall.
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