Home / Sports / Leathernecks Clinch NCAA Berth in Thrilling OVC Final
Leathernecks Clinch NCAA Berth in Thrilling OVC Final
8 Mar
Summary
- Western Illinois won the OVC Tournament championship over Lindenwood.
- Mia Nicastro and Mallory Shetley led the Leathernecks' offense.
- This marks Western Illinois' third NCAA Tournament appearance.
Western Illinois has clinched the OVC Tournament championship, earning a trip to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in program history. The Leathernecks defeated Lindenwood 71-65 in a hard-fought contest. Mia Nicastro was instrumental with 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Mallory Shetley contributed 18 points.
Despite trailing by as many as 16 points, Lindenwood mounted a comeback in the second half, closing the gap to a single point with under six minutes remaining. However, Nicastro and Shetley guided Western Illinois down the stretch, securing the victory.
Western Illinois, the No. 1 seed, led for the entire game, establishing an early 13-3 advantage and holding a 36-22 lead at halftime. Lindenwood, the No. 2 seed, battled back in the third quarter but ultimately fell short in the championship game for the second consecutive year.
