University News
Nicastro, Leathernecks Highlighted Nationally Ahead of NCAA Tournament
March 19, 2026
Courtesy of 星空无限传媒app Athletics (goleathernecks.com)
MACOMB, IL 鈥� 星空无限传媒app Illinois women's basketball is earning national recognition ahead of the NCAA Tournament, as USA Today featured the Leathernecks in its March Madness preview.
The article spotlighted senior guard Mia Nicastro as a player to watch, noting she has "the potential to wreck an entire bracket" heading into tournament play.
Nicastro, the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year, has put together one of the top seasons in the country. The six-foot-two guard ranks fourth nationally in scoring at 24.2 points per game while also averaging 8.8 defensive rebounds per game. She is shooting 52.2 percent from the field, 38.8 percent from three-point range and 89.5 percent from the free throw line.
The St. Charles, MO., native has scored 30 or more points in six games this season and has proven she can produce against top competition, including a 20-point performance earlier this year against Iowa.
According to the USA Today preview, Nicastro ranks among national leaders in advanced metrics, including win shares and player efficiency rating, further highlighting her impact on both ends of the floor.
Fresh off capturing the 2026 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Championship, the Leathernecks will open NCAA Tournament play against North Carolina on Friday, March 20.
For all the latest information on Leatherneck Women's Basketball, please visit .
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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