University of St. Thomas Athletics
Saturday, December 2
Macomb, Ill. / Western Hall
1:00 p.m. Central
at
Western Illinois
Photo by: Kylie Macziewski
Tommies battle Western Illinois in Summit League tourney rematch
12/1/2023 12:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Leathernecks left Summit League for OVC
ST. PAUL, MINN. --- The University of St. Thomas women's basketball team is back on the road this weekend as the team travels to Macomb, Illinois, to face former Summit League opponent Western Illinois. After Iowa State University in the first ever official Power 5 home game in program history, the Tommies are looking to get back in the win column with a victory over the Leathernecks on Saturday, December 2.
This is a highly anticipated rematch for St. Thomas and Western Illinois, which left the Summit Leage for the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) over the summer. The last time the two teams squared off was in the Tommies first ever conference tournament game, as St. Thomas earned a 61-50 victory over the No. 9 seeded Leatherbacks in the first-round of the Summit League Tournament. Sophomore Faith Feuerbach (Sycamore, Ill. / Sycamore) matched her season high with 12 points off the bench in the victory, and all five of the Tommies current starters for the scored 40 of the teams 61 points, while also recording a combined 26 rebounds, nine assists, and three blocks in St. Thomas' Division 1-era postseason basketball debut.
The playoff rematch is set to tipoff at 1:00 p.m. CT at Western Hall in Macomb, Illinois. Fans who cannot make the trip can watch the Tommies on ESPN+ and live stats will also be available on Western Illinois' athletics website.
Tommie Tidbits:
LAST TIME OUT: The Tommies played perhaps the "biggest" game in program history on Wednesday, as St. Thomas hosted Iowa State in the first official Power 5 home contest in program history. The Tommies fell to the reigning Big 12 Conference Champion. 85-44 despite a strong defensive effort. Shooting woes hindered St. Thomas, as the Tommies shot a season low 23.7 percent (14-59) from the field and 16 percent (6-38) from three-point range. The Cyclones, meanwhile, shot 53.3 percent (32-60) from the floor and 48 percent (11-23) from beyond the arc. St. Thomas was outrebounded by Iowa State 44-31 and converted 15 ISU turnovers into just 14 points. Still, the Tommies saw their top scorers continue to put points on the board, as Amber Scalia (Stillwater, Minn. / Stillwater) and Jade Hill (Minneapolis, Minn. / South) scored 10+ points against the Cyclones, extending the duos double-digit scoring streak to all seven games this season.
THE OPPOSITION: This Saturday marks the sixth overall matchup between Western Illinois and St. Thomas, with the Tommies leading the all-time series 3-2. The Leathernecks are coming into Saturday's matchup red hot, winning each of its last five games, hoisting an overall record of 6-1. Of those six wins, none were against Power 5 opponents. In fact, Western Illinois only loss of the year came at the hands of Wisconsin by a final score of 74-52.
OLD FRIENDS: In just three seasons, the Tommies and Leatherheads developed a fierce rivalry in Summit League play. St. Thomas won the first ever meeting between the two teams on January 1, 2022, opening a new year with a 66-64 double OT win at Western Illinois. The Leathernecks won the next two contests before the Tommies regained a 3-2 advantage in the series. St. Thomas may have won the most significant meeting between the two teams to date in the quarterfinal round of the Summit League Tournament last season. Fueled by double-digit performances from Maggie Negaard and Feuerbach, the Tommies upended the Leathernecks 61-50, advancing to the semifinals in their first ever Summit League Tournament appearance.
LUCKY #7: The duo of Scalia and Hill has been lethal for St. Thomas this season. In addition to averaging roughly 15.0 points per game apiece, they are the first ever duo in the Division I era to score 10+ points in seven consecutive games to open a season. The last time any Tommie duo scored 10+ points for at least five consecutive games to open a season happened in 2018-19, when Kaia Porter and Hannah Spaulding did it over a six game.
COACHING ROYALTY: Saturday's game will feature two of the most prominent coaches in college basketball, as Ruth Sinn and JD Gravina square off for the sixth time in their respective careers. Sinn currently has a one game advantage over Gravina in head-to-head matchups, winning three of the five previous games between the two. The two coaches have won a combined 680 games, with head coach Gravina picking up his 300th career win on Tuesday.
BETTER ON THE…ROAD?: The Tommies very rarely play better against an opponent on the road rather than at home. However, prior to its departure from the conference, Western Illinois was one of just three Summit League teams that St. Thomas has a better road record against than home. The Tommies are currently undefeated against the Leathernecks when playing on the road (2-0), yet, but they have yet to beat Western Illinois at home (0-2). In Macomb, Illinois the Tommies only give up 60.5 points per game on the defensive side of the ball, whereas in St. Paul, Western Illinois averages 79.5 points per game, a 19-point defensive swing. The other two teams are Summit League conference opponents, Omaha and South Dakota, where St. Thomas has not won at home (0-2) against both squads and has at least one win in the opposing arena (1-1).
STAT MONSTERS: The Leathernecks currently sit atop of the Ohio Valley conference standings in points per game (81.6), field goal percentage (46.7), three-point field goal percentage (38.7), and rebounds per game (44.3). Last time out, Leathernecks head coach JD Gravina achieved her 300th career win in a commanding 86-72 victory over Chicago State with senior Anna Deets scoring 17 points, and first year Raegan McCowan contributing a well-rounded performance with 13 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. The duo of Deets and McCowan currently rank fifth in the Ohio Valley in scoring, averaging 14.7 points per game individually for the Leathernecks. Sophomore guard Addi Brownfield ranks third in the conference in assists, averaging 4.6 assists per game on the year while adding on 9.9 points per game.
STINGY D: The Leathernecks may have stolen the Tommies thunder as one of the best defensive teams in the region. Western Illinois just ranks outside the top-50 in all Division I in scoring defense, as the team is holding its opponents to just 56.1 points per game this year. The team's .346 opponent field goal percentage ranks in the top-50 in Division I (42), while opponents .237 three-point shooting percentage helps the team rank 27th in the nation in that category. Offensively, the Leathernecks rank 19th in scoring margin (25.4), three-point shooting percentage (.387) and rebound margin (12.0) entering Saturday's game against St. Thomas.
STREAK SNAPPERS: After winning three consecutive games in mid-November, the Tommies find themselves in the midst of a three-game losing skid, having suffered three consecutive losses to UC Irvine, Butler and Iowa State. It's the longest losing streak St. Thomas has suffered this season and marks the first time the Tommies have lost three games in a row since the 2022-23 season. St. Thomas lost six consecutive games from December 19 to January 7, all in Summit League play, before snapping the streak with a 63-60 win over UMKC on January 12.
POWER FIVE WELCOME: The Tommies have achieved a lot of "firsts" in the DI era, and Wednesday was no different. Iowa State was the first Power Five women's basketball team to play in Schoenecker Arena. However, it's not the first Power Five team to square off against any Tommie team at home. The women's hockey team has been facing Power Five opponents since joining the WCHA in 2021-22, facing powerhouses such as the Badgers, Minnesota and Ohio State on a regular basis. The St. Thomas men's hockey team played the Gophers at a neutral site in 2023-24, nearly upsetting the No. 1/2 team in the country at Xcel Energy Center on October 13, 2023.
800/100 CLUB: Junior guard Jade Hill has made a name for herself in just three seasons with St. Thomas. During the team's trip to California, Hill joined the 800/100 club, becoming the first Tommie student-athlete in the DI era to score 800 points and tally 100 steals with St. Thomas. Entering Wednesday's contest, Hill owns 823 career points, averaging 12.7 per game throughout her Tommie career, and tallying 102 steals. She additionally looks to eclipse the 300 career assists milestone this season with 233 total to her name.
300/250 CLUB: Hill isn't the only student-athlete nearing milestones for St. Thomas. Fifth year senior Jordyn Glynn is inching closer and closer to 300 career rebounds, as she sits at 299 entering Saturday's contest. Langbehn is also creeping up the rebound rankings. The junior owns exactly 250 in three seasons with the Tommies and achieved the 250 career rebound milestone in the Tommies last game against Iowa State. Head coach Ruth Sinn is also on milestone watch, as she looks to win her 400th career game this season.
NO SCALING BACK: Amber Scalia, in particular, is a force to be reckoned with on her home court. In three games at Schoenecker Arena, the sophomore guard has scored 64 points, including a career-high 28 in the win over Utah Valley on November 18. In fact, in the Tommies three wins this season, Scalia averaged 23.3 points per game and scored 20+ points in two of those three victories. Additionally, the sophomore shot 19-41 from the floor in those victories, just under .500, and shot at least 50% from three-point land in two of those wins. Currently, Scalia ranks third in the Summit League in scoring (16.9), sixth in field goal percentage (.411), and leads the conference in three-points per game (2.3).
This is a highly anticipated rematch for St. Thomas and Western Illinois, which left the Summit Leage for the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) over the summer. The last time the two teams squared off was in the Tommies first ever conference tournament game, as St. Thomas earned a 61-50 victory over the No. 9 seeded Leatherbacks in the first-round of the Summit League Tournament. Sophomore Faith Feuerbach (Sycamore, Ill. / Sycamore) matched her season high with 12 points off the bench in the victory, and all five of the Tommies current starters for the scored 40 of the teams 61 points, while also recording a combined 26 rebounds, nine assists, and three blocks in St. Thomas' Division 1-era postseason basketball debut.
The playoff rematch is set to tipoff at 1:00 p.m. CT at Western Hall in Macomb, Illinois. Fans who cannot make the trip can watch the Tommies on ESPN+ and live stats will also be available on Western Illinois' athletics website.
Tommie Tidbits:
LAST TIME OUT: The Tommies played perhaps the "biggest" game in program history on Wednesday, as St. Thomas hosted Iowa State in the first official Power 5 home contest in program history. The Tommies fell to the reigning Big 12 Conference Champion. 85-44 despite a strong defensive effort. Shooting woes hindered St. Thomas, as the Tommies shot a season low 23.7 percent (14-59) from the field and 16 percent (6-38) from three-point range. The Cyclones, meanwhile, shot 53.3 percent (32-60) from the floor and 48 percent (11-23) from beyond the arc. St. Thomas was outrebounded by Iowa State 44-31 and converted 15 ISU turnovers into just 14 points. Still, the Tommies saw their top scorers continue to put points on the board, as Amber Scalia (Stillwater, Minn. / Stillwater) and Jade Hill (Minneapolis, Minn. / South) scored 10+ points against the Cyclones, extending the duos double-digit scoring streak to all seven games this season.
THE OPPOSITION: This Saturday marks the sixth overall matchup between Western Illinois and St. Thomas, with the Tommies leading the all-time series 3-2. The Leathernecks are coming into Saturday's matchup red hot, winning each of its last five games, hoisting an overall record of 6-1. Of those six wins, none were against Power 5 opponents. In fact, Western Illinois only loss of the year came at the hands of Wisconsin by a final score of 74-52.
OLD FRIENDS: In just three seasons, the Tommies and Leatherheads developed a fierce rivalry in Summit League play. St. Thomas won the first ever meeting between the two teams on January 1, 2022, opening a new year with a 66-64 double OT win at Western Illinois. The Leathernecks won the next two contests before the Tommies regained a 3-2 advantage in the series. St. Thomas may have won the most significant meeting between the two teams to date in the quarterfinal round of the Summit League Tournament last season. Fueled by double-digit performances from Maggie Negaard and Feuerbach, the Tommies upended the Leathernecks 61-50, advancing to the semifinals in their first ever Summit League Tournament appearance.
LUCKY #7: The duo of Scalia and Hill has been lethal for St. Thomas this season. In addition to averaging roughly 15.0 points per game apiece, they are the first ever duo in the Division I era to score 10+ points in seven consecutive games to open a season. The last time any Tommie duo scored 10+ points for at least five consecutive games to open a season happened in 2018-19, when Kaia Porter and Hannah Spaulding did it over a six game.
COACHING ROYALTY: Saturday's game will feature two of the most prominent coaches in college basketball, as Ruth Sinn and JD Gravina square off for the sixth time in their respective careers. Sinn currently has a one game advantage over Gravina in head-to-head matchups, winning three of the five previous games between the two. The two coaches have won a combined 680 games, with head coach Gravina picking up his 300th career win on Tuesday.
BETTER ON THE…ROAD?: The Tommies very rarely play better against an opponent on the road rather than at home. However, prior to its departure from the conference, Western Illinois was one of just three Summit League teams that St. Thomas has a better road record against than home. The Tommies are currently undefeated against the Leathernecks when playing on the road (2-0), yet, but they have yet to beat Western Illinois at home (0-2). In Macomb, Illinois the Tommies only give up 60.5 points per game on the defensive side of the ball, whereas in St. Paul, Western Illinois averages 79.5 points per game, a 19-point defensive swing. The other two teams are Summit League conference opponents, Omaha and South Dakota, where St. Thomas has not won at home (0-2) against both squads and has at least one win in the opposing arena (1-1).
STAT MONSTERS: The Leathernecks currently sit atop of the Ohio Valley conference standings in points per game (81.6), field goal percentage (46.7), three-point field goal percentage (38.7), and rebounds per game (44.3). Last time out, Leathernecks head coach JD Gravina achieved her 300th career win in a commanding 86-72 victory over Chicago State with senior Anna Deets scoring 17 points, and first year Raegan McCowan contributing a well-rounded performance with 13 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. The duo of Deets and McCowan currently rank fifth in the Ohio Valley in scoring, averaging 14.7 points per game individually for the Leathernecks. Sophomore guard Addi Brownfield ranks third in the conference in assists, averaging 4.6 assists per game on the year while adding on 9.9 points per game.
STINGY D: The Leathernecks may have stolen the Tommies thunder as one of the best defensive teams in the region. Western Illinois just ranks outside the top-50 in all Division I in scoring defense, as the team is holding its opponents to just 56.1 points per game this year. The team's .346 opponent field goal percentage ranks in the top-50 in Division I (42), while opponents .237 three-point shooting percentage helps the team rank 27th in the nation in that category. Offensively, the Leathernecks rank 19th in scoring margin (25.4), three-point shooting percentage (.387) and rebound margin (12.0) entering Saturday's game against St. Thomas.
STREAK SNAPPERS: After winning three consecutive games in mid-November, the Tommies find themselves in the midst of a three-game losing skid, having suffered three consecutive losses to UC Irvine, Butler and Iowa State. It's the longest losing streak St. Thomas has suffered this season and marks the first time the Tommies have lost three games in a row since the 2022-23 season. St. Thomas lost six consecutive games from December 19 to January 7, all in Summit League play, before snapping the streak with a 63-60 win over UMKC on January 12.
POWER FIVE WELCOME: The Tommies have achieved a lot of "firsts" in the DI era, and Wednesday was no different. Iowa State was the first Power Five women's basketball team to play in Schoenecker Arena. However, it's not the first Power Five team to square off against any Tommie team at home. The women's hockey team has been facing Power Five opponents since joining the WCHA in 2021-22, facing powerhouses such as the Badgers, Minnesota and Ohio State on a regular basis. The St. Thomas men's hockey team played the Gophers at a neutral site in 2023-24, nearly upsetting the No. 1/2 team in the country at Xcel Energy Center on October 13, 2023.
800/100 CLUB: Junior guard Jade Hill has made a name for herself in just three seasons with St. Thomas. During the team's trip to California, Hill joined the 800/100 club, becoming the first Tommie student-athlete in the DI era to score 800 points and tally 100 steals with St. Thomas. Entering Wednesday's contest, Hill owns 823 career points, averaging 12.7 per game throughout her Tommie career, and tallying 102 steals. She additionally looks to eclipse the 300 career assists milestone this season with 233 total to her name.
300/250 CLUB: Hill isn't the only student-athlete nearing milestones for St. Thomas. Fifth year senior Jordyn Glynn is inching closer and closer to 300 career rebounds, as she sits at 299 entering Saturday's contest. Langbehn is also creeping up the rebound rankings. The junior owns exactly 250 in three seasons with the Tommies and achieved the 250 career rebound milestone in the Tommies last game against Iowa State. Head coach Ruth Sinn is also on milestone watch, as she looks to win her 400th career game this season.
NO SCALING BACK: Amber Scalia, in particular, is a force to be reckoned with on her home court. In three games at Schoenecker Arena, the sophomore guard has scored 64 points, including a career-high 28 in the win over Utah Valley on November 18. In fact, in the Tommies three wins this season, Scalia averaged 23.3 points per game and scored 20+ points in two of those three victories. Additionally, the sophomore shot 19-41 from the floor in those victories, just under .500, and shot at least 50% from three-point land in two of those wins. Currently, Scalia ranks third in the Summit League in scoring (16.9), sixth in field goal percentage (.411), and leads the conference in three-points per game (2.3).
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