Four Southern Illinois players scored in double digits leading the Salukis past Illinois State 58-47 Sunday in Missouri Valley Conference womens basketball action on Senior Day at Redbird Arena.
The Redbirds, 5-20, 3-13 in the Valley, fell to the same problem they had in last months loss at Carbondale even though senior
Nadia Peruch matched her career high with 18 points. SIU scored the final 14 points in that game, and finished today on a 13-0 run. For ISU, the loss puts the Birds in a situation where they most likely have to win their last two games to have a chance at making the eight-team State Farm-Missouri Valley Conference Tournament in Springfield, Mo.
The Salukis, 6-20, 3-14, started both halves quickly with a 9-0 run to start the game and a 10-0 advantage to start the second half.
Southern Illinois used a three-pointer and a jump shot by Molly McDowell to leap to a 9-0 lead in the first four minutes. ISU rallied to 9-7 at the 14-minute mark, but the Birds shooting went cold again and Southern moved back to a 22-12 lead with six minutes left after back-to-back Danielle Lawary baskets.
ISU answered with its own run of six-straight Peruch points, including a pair of free throws, a fast-break layup and a jumper fromt he top of the circle. That started the Birds on an 11-2 run to finish the half and cut SIUs edge to 24-23 at intermission. After a 4-6 shooting start, SIU made just 7 of 28 the rest of the half. ISU missed half of 12 free throws or the Birds could have been leading.
SIUs 10-0 second half start featured baskets by four players as the Salukis hit 4 of their first 5 shots and grabbed a 34-23 advantage with 17:26 left. But the Birds wouldnt back down, coming back with an 8-0 run of its own and chasing the Salukis until
Kristi Larsons bucket-and-one three-pointer tied the game at 42-apiece with 8:05 left.The teams battled back and forth until ISU took a 47-45 lead, its one and only of the game, with 6:22 left on Peruchs two free throws.
But the Salukis scored the next 10 points to take a 56-47 lead into the final minute and held ISU scoreless, finishing the game with 13 straight points.
With emotions running high because of senior day for Peruch and
Shandeen Hunt, Illinois State head coach
Jenny Yopp said she felt the team had many emotions running through them throughout the game and that could have contributed to the low score of the game.
I felt we were getting shots we wanted but there was so much emotion because this is a special and important day, Yopp said. We didnt put points on the board like we needed to but I was proud of the way my kids passes and bounced the ball. Shandeen and Nadia are so respected and thought of so highly by the players on the team, I think they really wanted to win this game but it just didnt turn out the way we wanted it to.
Southern Illinois coach Lori Opp thought her team was fortunate to win.
We played flat, but thank goodness our kids stepped up at the end, said Opp. They had a good game plan and took advantage of things. They got to the line in the first half and we didnt until the second half. Larson and Peruch made some good post moves around us and our kids did a better job in the low post for us, and we were fortunate that they had some shots that rimmed out.
The Redbirds play Bradley Thursday at 7 p.m. at Robertson Fieldhouse. A win is a must to have a chance at the Valley Tournament.
