Dec. 19, 2002
Macomb, Ill. - Despite shooting 60 percent from the field, the Western Kentucky women's basketball team was unable to overcome a late run by Western Illinois as the Lady Toppers dropped a 66-62 decision Thursday night.
After the two teams traded baskets over the first few minutes, WKU (4-3) got back-to-back threes from Kristina Covington (Sr., Elizabethtown, Ky.) to take an 8-4 lead at the 14:38 mark. After two straight backs by the Westerwinds (5-4) evened the score at 8-8, the Lady Toppers went on a 13-2 run over the next 3:00 to open up its largest lead of the half when a Leslie Logsdon (Jr., Munfordville, Ky.) three made it 21-10 with 8:50 remaining in the half. WIU fought back, however, holding WKU without a point for the next four minutes to get back within two, and eventually even the score at 25-25 when two free throws from Becky Tyo made it a 25-25 game with 1:58 to play. After trading baskets, a Tiffany Porter-Talbert (Fr., Manhattan Beach, Calif.) layup with 13 seconds to play gave WKU a 29-27 lead going into intermission.
Shala Reese (Sr., Easton, Texas) led the Lady Toppers at the break with eight points, while also pulling down seven rebounds. Erica Zielinski paced Western Illinois with eight points.
Western jumped out by six to open the second half, but again WIU battled back within a point on several occasions. WKU held onto the lead until a jumper from Jessica Cook gave the Westerwinds a 58-57 lead with 3:26 remaining. Both teams traded baskets and the lead, but WIU jumped out to a four point lead with 1:10 to play, and the Lady Toppers were unable to pull even as Western Illinois took the four-point victory.
Logsdon led all scorers with 17 points, while Reese added 16 points and 14 rebounds. Tyo led WIU with 14 points.
The Lady Toppers continue their swing through the state of Illinois on Sunday, taking on Illinois-Chicago at 2 p.m. (CST).
- WKU -
