MACOMB, Ill. (Interstat) — Western Illinois used a dominant second half to defeat Morehead State 74-53 in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Saturday at Western Hall. The Leathernecks, now 23-4, trailed by five at halftime but outscored the Eagles 50-24 after the break before a crowd of 1,338. Addi Brownfield led Western Illinois with 20 points, six rebounds and five assists. Mia Nicastro added a game-high 24 points and eight rebounds. Morehead State (17-12) was led by Kate Dike’s 15 points and nine rebounds. The Eagles built an early lead but managed only seven points in the fourth quarter. Western Illinois avenged a loss to Morehead State from Jan. 22.

MACOMB, Ill. (Interstat) — The Western Illinois Leathernecks used a dominant second half to pull away from the Morehead State Eagles, securing a 74-53 victory in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Saturday at Western Hall. The game, organized by the Ohio Valley Conference and attended by 1,338 fans, saw the Leathernecks improve their season record to 23-4, while the Eagles fell to 17-12. The contest was a tale of two halves, defined by a decisive third-quarter surge from the home team. Morehead State controlled the early stages, building a 29-24 halftime lead behind a strong first quarter where they scored 19 points. The Eagles’ defense held Western Illinois to just 24 points on 9-of-26 shooting in the first half. The complexion of the game changed entirely after halftime. Western Illinois emerged from the break with renewed energy on both ends of the floor. The Leathernecks erupted for 22 points in the third quarter while simultaneously clamping down defensively, limiting Morehead State to 17. The run was fueled by the interior presence of Mia Nicastro and the all-around play of Addi Brownfield. Nicastro, a 6-foot-2 forward from St. Charles, Missouri, scored consistently in the paint, while Brownfield facilitated and scored from the perimeter. The Leathernecks’ momentum only accelerated in the final period. They outscored the Eagles 28-7 in the fourth quarter, turning a competitive game into a lopsided affair. Western Illinois shot efficiently in the second half and capitalized on Morehead State’s mistakes, scoring 16 points off 18 Eagle turnovers for the game. The Leathernecks also found success at the free-throw line, making 19 of 26 attempts compared to Morehead State’s 6 of 11. Addi Brownfield, a 5-foot-9 guard from Boonville, Missouri, led Western Illinois with a stat line of 20 points, six rebounds, and five assists in 29 minutes, showcasing the form that has made her a key contributor during the team’s successful season. Mia Nicastro was a force inside, scoring a game-high 24 points and grabbing eight rebounds. Mallory Shetley added 12 points and four assists, and Allie Meadows chipped in 13 points. For Morehead State, Kate Dike, a 6-foot-3 forward from Kyiv, Ukraine, recorded a near double-double with 15 points and nine rebounds. Marie Sepp of Tallinn, Estonia, scored 10 points, but the Eagles struggled to find consistent offense outside of their top performers. The team shot just 39.2% from the field and 26.9% from three-point range while being hampered by turnovers. The most important part of the game was the Leathernecks’ overwhelming third-quarter performance, which completely shifted the game’s trajectory. After being held in check for a half, Western Illinois’ offensive execution and defensive pressure in the period dismantled Morehead State’s early game plan and set the stage for the runaway fourth quarter. The victory extended Western Illinois’s strong run of form and avenged a 63-53 loss to Morehead State in Kentucky just a month prior on Jan. 22. The Leathernecks will look to continue their momentum in their upcoming conference schedule. Morehead State will aim to regroup as they return home for their next contest.

Preview: Morehead State Eagles at Western Illinois Leathernecks MACOMB, Ill. (Interstat) — A surging Western Illinois squad will look to avenge its only Ohio Valley Conference loss this season when it hosts the Morehead State Eagles at Western Hall on Saturday. The Leathernecks (22-4, 13-1 OVC), who sit atop the conference standings, have won 10 of their last 11 games. Their lone conference blemish was a 63-53 defeat at Morehead State on Jan. 22. Western Illinois is coming off a dominant 64-39 victory over Southern Indiana on Thursday, where its defense held an opponent under 40 points for the second time this season. Morehead State (17-11, 10-4) arrives having won five of its last six, including a 74-70 road win at Eastern Illinois on Thursday. The Eagles handed Western Illinois its first league loss last month and will aim for a regular-season sweep. A key matchup will feature two of the conference’s top guards. Western Illinois is led by dynamic scorer Mia Nicastro, who is averaging 25.4 points over her last five games. She erupted for 37 points in a win over Arkansas-Little Rock on Feb. 12. Morehead State will counter with Violet McNece, who is coming off a 19-point, 3-assist performance against Eastern Illinois and has scored in double figures in seven of her last eight contests. The Leathernecks have been nearly unbeatable at home, boasting a 12-1 record at Western Hall this season. Their offense leads the OVC, averaging 74.2 points per game. Morehead State, currently third in the conference, will need another stout defensive effort after limiting Western Illinois to 53 points in the first meeting. Saturday’s result will have significant implications for the OVC tournament seeding next month. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. EST.