Mastodons Fall at Western Illinois 73-54

Thursday, February 28

Macomb, Ill.

6:30 p.m.

Purdue Fort Wayne

12-15, 8-7

Western Illinois

13-15, 6-9

Fort Wayne

Western Illinois

Photo by: Lucas Carter

2/28/2013 9:51:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Box Score

MACOMB, Ill. – IPFW lost at Western Illinois on Thursday night by the final score of 73-54. The Mastodons are now 12-15 overall and 8-7 in the Summit League with one game remaining in the regular season.

The Mastodons got off to a slow start and found themselves down 6-0 early in the opening half. That lead turned into a 38-24 advantage at halftime and the Leathernecks maintained a comfortable lead for the remainder of the game.

Stefanie Mauk led IPFW in scoring with 16 points. She shot 6-of-15 from the field, which included knocking down three shots from behind the arc. Amanda Hyde was the only other Mastodon to score in double figures. She added 12 points, seven rebounds, three steals, and two assists.

3-point shooting has been a major factor in IPFW's recent winning streak, but Western Illinois came out on top in that category tonight hitting 11 of their 24 attempts (45%). Saule Kontautaite hit five 3-point field goals and Michelle Maher was close behind with four. Maher ended the game with 16 points, seven rebounds, four assists and a block. Kontautaite scored a game-high 17 points, leading WIU to victory.

IPFW never led in the game as Western used a team effort to grab the 6-0 lead. IPFW scored the next five points to erase the gap, but another Leatherneck run put WIU up 16-5 with 12:57 to play in the first half. The double figure lead got up to 16 points in the first half after a pair of free throws from Jackie Rieger, but Murphy scored the last field goal of the first half to put the score at 38-24.

The start of the second half also went Western Illinois' way as the Leathernecks quickly opened up a 20 point lead at the first media timeout. The Mastodons cut the deficit to 13 after a 3-point field goal from Hyde, but Kontautaite answered with a 3 on the next possession to regain the momentum.

Western Illinois came out on top of all the hustle point categories. They scored 19 points off IPFW turnovers and also won the points in the paint battle 26-14. The Leathernecks scored 10 second chance points and also outscored the IPFW bench 12-5.

The Mastodons will return to action this Saturday with a game at IUPUI.

~ Feel the Rumble ~