MACOMB, Ill. – The Lipscomb University women's basketball team saw its historical season come to an end on Thursday night in the opening round of the Women's National Invitation Tournament, falling to Western Illinois University, 89-74, from Western Hall. 

Final Score: Western Illinois 89, Lipscomb 74
Location: Macomb, Illinois (Western Hall)
Records: Lipscomb (20-12), Western Illinois (17-16)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
With Lipscomb having nine days off between games and Western Illinois with 12, there was some rust shaken off on both sides. Ainhoa Cea scored the first four points of the game to give the Bisons the early 4-2 lead with 7:09 left in the opening quarter. 

However, the Bisons could not buy a bucket for most of the first half, as they hit just four shots in the opening quarter. Fortunately, thanks to the one-rebound edge by the visitors, 12-11, WIU led 17-10 after 10 minutes. 

The good side as the game moved to the second quarter, shots were starting to fall. Lipscomb opened on a 10-2 run in the first five minutes of the period to make it a 21-20 deficit. 

The Leathernecks used a field goal on their next possession to make it 23-20, and that sparked a run of 17-4 from the rest of the quarter to take a 38-24 halftime lead. 

WIU improved its lead to 21 early in the quarter, but the Bisons' offense came to life. After Lipscomb scored 24 points in the first quarter on nine field goals, the Bisons dropped 30, including eight second chance points. 

Because of the spark, Lipscomb cut the deficit from 21 to 12 after three quarters, 66-54. 

In the final period, the Leathernecks were giving the Bisons plenty of opportunities to get back into the game, and they gladly accepted. A Claira McGowan field goal with 4:27 left in the ballgame trimmed the deficit down to seven, 76-69. However, despite Western Illinois going 9-of-16 from the charity stripe, the Leathernecks used a 13-5 run to end the game to seal the contest. 

KEY STATISTICS
Claira McGowan led Lipscomb with 16 points with six rebounds, while Bella Vinson added 15 points and eight boards. 

Ainhoa Cea knocked down 6-of-8 from the floor for 14 points. Jalyn Holcomb also scored 14 for the Bisons, while Molly Heard picked up 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds. 

HERD NOTES
Lipscomb played in the WNIT for the first time in its program history, and it marked the second time the Bisons have played in the postseason, joining the 2004 team that qualified for the NCAA Tournament. 

The Bisons saw all of its starting five hit double digits in the scoring column, marking just the second time this season the team had five players achieve it. Lipscomb finished 15 of its 32 games with four or more scoring double figures. 

Lipscomb finished the 2025 season setting new single-season program records in scoring (74.5), field goals made (880), 3-point field goals made (306), and total points scored (2,385).