MACOMB, Ill. -- Megan Aubuchon (Old Monroe, Mo.) tallied a 12-point outing to lead the Owls offense on Tuesday night, but it wouldn't be enough as the William Woods University women's basketball team fell to NCAA Division I Western Illinois by a 73-52 margin. WWU managed to outrebound the Leathernecks, but could only muster a 11 percent shooting pace from 3-pt range in the game.

Neither team was able to find the range early, as it took nearly two minutes for either team to score. Aubuchon put in a jumper with 18:15 on the clock to put the Owls up 2-0, but the lead would be short-lived.

WIU answered with a bucket on its next possession, and used a series of small spurts to build a 39-25 halftime lead. Coming out of the locker room, however, the Leathernecks posted an 11-2 run and didn't look back.

The Leathernecks stretched out to a 66-32 lead with 8:50 to go, but the Owls were able to claw back into the game with a 15-2 run, closing the gap to 49-68 with 1:13 to go. Destani Stensrud (Exeter, Mo.) capped off the run with seven consecutive points, including a three-pointer with 1:26 on the clock.

Dexter, Mo., native Ashlee Taylor contributed six rebounds, four points, and a steal in her 20 minutes of playing time.

William Woods finished the game with a .358 shooting percentage from the field, and hit at a .650 pace from the free throw line. Western Illinois finished with a .425 pace from the floor and a .321 rate from 3-pt range. The Owls held the rebounding edge on the evening, 43-38, and will return to regular season action on Friday.

WWU is set to take on Campbellsville University in the Cougars vs. Cancer Classic on Dec. 30, with tipoff slated at 2 p.m.