Western Illinois Leathernecks women's basketball

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Western Illinois Leathernecks women's basketball
2023–24 Western Illinois Leathernecks women's basketball team
UniversityWestern Illinois University
Athletic directorPaul Bubb
Head coachJD Gravina (6th season)
ConferenceOhio Valley Conference
LocationMacomb, Illinois
ArenaWestern Hall
(Capacity: 5,139)
NicknameLeathernecks
Student sectionPurple Platoon
ColorsPurple and gold[1]
   
Uniforms
Home jersey
Team colours
Home
Away jersey
Team colours
Away


NCAA tournament appearances
1995, 2017
Conference tournament champions
Mid-Cont: 1995
Summit: 2017
Conference regular season champions
Mid-Cont: 1995, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
Summit: 2017

The Western Illinois Leathernecks women's basketball team represents Western Illinois University of Macomb, Illinois, in NCAA Division I women's college basketball competition. The school's team currently competes in the Ohio Valley Conference.[2] The Leathernecks became a member of the Ohio Valley Conference on July 1, 2023.[3]

History[edit]

In their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1995, they lost to North Carolina 89–48. They made appearances in the WNIT in 2003 and 2006 along with an appearance in the WBI in 2016.[4]

Western Illinois were 2016–17 Summit League Champions.[5]

March 28 is WIU Leatherneck Women's Basketball Day in Macomb, Illinois.[6] The team was recognized for their 2016–2017 record where they finished 26–7 in the Summit League and advancing to the NCAA tournament.

2017 Summit League Tournament[edit]

Western Illinois was the Number 1 seed in the tournament. They won the Summit League Tournament on March 7, 2017, with a 77–69 overtime win defeating IUPUI.[7] The win sends the Leatherneck's to the NCAA Tournament, their first appearance since 1995. The win was WIU's 11th consecutive of the season, tying the team record set in 1995.

Both Morgan Blumer and Emily Clemens were named to the All-Tournament League, with Clemens being named tournament MVP.

NCAA tournament results[edit]

Year Seed Round Opponent Result
1995 #14 First Round #3 North Carolina L 48−89
2017 #14 First Round #3 Florida State L 66−87

Season–by–season results[edit]

Statistics overview
Season Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Bea Yeager (No Conference) (1971–1982)
1971–72 Bea Yeager 10–8
1972–73 Bea Yeager 11–7
1973–74 Bea Yeager 13–8
1974–75 Bea Yeager 6–11
1975–76 Bea Yeager 8–10
1976–77 Bea Yeager 11–11
1977–78 Bea Yeager 14–8
1978–79 Bea Yeager 14–7
1979–80 Bea Yeager 13–11
1980–81 Bea Yeager 13–12
1981–82 Bea Yeager 7–21
Bea Yeager: 121–115 (.513)
Teresa Check (Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference) (1982–1986)
1982–83 Teresa Check 5–22 1—7 10th
1983–84 Teresa Check 8–19 5—13 8th
1984–85 Teresa Check 6–21 3—15 9th
1985–86 Teresa Check 4–23 1—17 10th
Bea Yeager: 23–85 (.213) 10–52 (.161)
Kathy Markey (Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference) (1986–1987)
1986–87 Kathy Markey 5–21 3—15 10th
Kathy Markey: 5–21 (.192) 3–15 (.167)
Kelly Hill (Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference) (1987–1992)
1987–88 Kelly Hill 4–22 2—16 10th
1988–89 Kelly Hill 9–18 7—8 6th
1989–90 Kelly Hill 7–20 4—14 9th
1990–91 Kelly Hill 11–16 6—12 8th
1991–92 Kelly Hill 9–18 5—13 8th
Kelly Hill: 45–115 (.281) 24–63 (.276)
Regina Miller (Mid-Continent Conference) (1992–1998)
1992–93 Regina Miller 3–21 1—15 9th
1993–94 Regina Miller 15–13 11—7 3rd
1994–95 Regina Miller 17–12 14—4 1st NCAA First Round
1995–96 Regina Miller 10–17 8—10 8th
1996–97 Regina Miller 7–20 4—12 7th
1997–98 Regina Miller 8–18 5—11 7th
Regina Miller: 60–101 (.373) 43–59 (.422)
Leslie Crane (Mid-Continent Conference/Summit League) (1998–2011)
1998–99 Leslie Crane 7–19 4—7 7th
1999–00 Leslie Crane 18–11 11—5 3rd
2000–01 Leslie Crane 16–12 11—6 3rd
2001–02 Leslie Crane 16–12 11—6 3rd
2002–03 Leslie Crane 21–9 12—2 1st WNIT First Round
2003–04 Leslie Crane 20–9 19—9 1st
2004–05 Leslie Crane 19–9 13—3 1st
2005–06 Leslie Crane 23–7 13—3 1st WNIT First Round
2006–07 Leslie Crane 10–19 6—8 5th
2007–08 Leslie Crane 14–16 12—6 T–2nd
2008–09 Leslie Crane 9–21 7—11 T–6th
2009–10 Leslie Crane 11–20 6—12 7th
2010–11 Leslie Crane 8–21 6—12 8th
Leslie Crane: 192–185 (.509) 122–84 (.592)
J. D. Gravina (Summit League) (2011–2023)
2011–12 J. D. Gravina 12–19 7—11 T–6th
2012–13 J. D. Gravina 14–16 7—9 5th
2013–14 J. D. Gravina 14–16 6—8 5th
2014–15 J. D. Gravina 17–13 9—7 T–3rd
2015–16 J. D. Gravina 16–16 8—8 5th WBI Quarterfinals
2016–17 J. D. Gravina 26–7 13—3 1st NCAA First Round
2017–18 J. D. Gravina 22–10 10—4 3rd WNIT First Round
2018–19 J. D. Gravina 12–18 8—8 5th
2019–20 J. D. Gravina 15–15 9—7 T–3rd
2020–21 J. D. Gravina 8–16 6—8 5th
2021–22 J. D. Gravina 14–15 5—13 7th
2022–23 J. D. Gravina 10–20 5—13 9th
J. D. Gravina (Ohio Valley Conference) (2023–present)
2023–24 J. D. Gravina
J. D. Gravina: 180–181 (.499) 70–58 (.547)
Total: 626–803 (.438)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Source:[8]

Notable former players[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Western Illinois Leathernecks Athletics 2017–18 Branding & Style Guidelines (PDF). July 11, 2017. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  2. ^ "Western Illinois Athletics". goleathernecks.com.
  3. ^ "Western Illinois University to Join the OVC in 2023-24" (Press release). Ohio Valley Conference. May 12, 2023. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  4. ^ "Western Illinois Athletics" (PDF). goleathernecks.com.
  5. ^ "2016–17 Women's Basketball Standings". The Summit League. Retrieved 2017-03-09.
  6. ^ "Mayor Proclaims March 28 WIU Leatherneck Women's Basketball Day – University Relations – Western Illinois University". www.wiu.edu. Retrieved 2017-03-28.
  7. ^ "Western Illinois Wins #SummitWBB Championship". The Summit League. 2017-03-07. Retrieved 2017-03-09.
  8. ^ "Leatherneck Women's Basketball Record Book" (PDF). Western Illinois University. Retrieved April 7, 2023.

External links[edit]