Jaci McCormack scored a career-high 22 points including five three-pointers, but it wasnt enough to hold-off a late Southern Illinois challenge as the Salukis beat Illinois State 74-69 on Senior Day, the final home game of the season at Redbird Arena for Illinois State.
The Redbirds, 7-17 overall, 5-10 in the Missouri Valley, had a 44-35 rebounding edge led by Sharon Blade with nine, and ISU and SIU were even on turnovers with 15 each, but the Salukis shot 50 percent from the field to 33 percent for the Redbirds to win the game. McCormack had five three-pointers.
The Salukis, 7-16 overall, 3-11 in the Valley trailed most of the game until the final three minutes when they took a 68-63 lead. With 52 seconds left, Stacey White hit three free throws to cut the SIU lead to 68-66, but Molly McDowell, who led all scorers with 23, threw in an off-balance shot with 32 seconds left to secure the Saluki victory.
Redbird coach Jenny Yopp thought her team gave up key bucket down the stretch.
They knocked down key shots and had ice in their veins, said Yopp, referring to SIUs comeback. Im not disappointed in the effort, but we just have to execute and stay mentally tough down the stretch.
SIU coach Lori Opp praised McDowells efforts.
Shes comfortable playing here (at Redbird Arena), said Opp. Shes really played well lately. She plays really well here. I think shes comfortable playing here because she played in two straight state tournaments here (back-to-back titles for Nokomis High School).
McDowell scored nine points of her 12 first-half points in the first 12 minutes to put SIU ahead 17-12. The Saluki lead grew to 26-17 with 5:09 left in the half when McCormack kicked her offense into high gear. Starting with a driving bucket-and-one three-point play, McCormack scored 10 points and Zora Skrabalova scored the other four as ISU finished the half on a 14-2 run and a 31-28 lead.
After hitting just six of their first 23 shots, ISU was 6-for-6 in the final five minutes of the first half and registered stops on 10 of 11 Saluki possessions. Early baskets by Stacey Nickerson and Blade and a Taren OBrien three-pointer helped ISU stretch the lead to eight points in the first five minutes of the second half, 45-37 on a Blade basket with 14:27 left.
But Southern came back to tie at 46-46 on a Stephanie Brown basket with 11:36 left. McCormacks three answered to put ISU on top, but Jodi Heiden hit a long jumper and a free throw and the game was tied at 51-apiece. McCormack drained another three-pointer after Katie Donovans two free throws to give the Birds a 55-49 cushion. But SIU kept on battling back, coming with 55-54 with 7:08 left.
Threes by McCormack and Stacey White bracketed Dana Pinkstons two free throws to give the Redbirds a 61-56 edge into the final five minutes. SIU answered again, with Tiffany Crutcher scoring a hook shot high over Skrabalovas outstretched arm and Pinkston hitting a steal and layup with 4:20 left and SIU cut the lead to one again.
SIU finally took the lead 63-62 on a Crutcher basket with 3:26 left. and never looked back.
The visiting team has won the last four games in the ISU-SIU series
The Redbirds begin three straight road games to finish the regular season with a Thursday match at Drake.
