Southern Illinois University
Tennessee Tech
Women's Basketball Loses to Tennessee Tech, 82-75
12/02/2001 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 2, 2001
Cookeville, Tenn. - Senior center Janet Holt exploded for 24 second half points which added to a total of 29 for the game to lead Tennessee Tech (3-3) to an 82-75 win over Southern Illinois (2-3) Sunday at the Eblen Center.
With the win, the Golden Eaglettes extended their home winning streak to 12 games which ties for 19th longest in NCAA Division I.
Molly McDowell scored SIU's first seven points of the game as the Salukis jumped out to a 7-3 lead with 16:09 to play in the first half. Tennessee Tech then countered McDowell's spree with a 15-5 jaunt to build its biggest lead of the half at 18-12 on a three-point play by Holt with 10:35 remaining.
Despite the Golden Eaglette rally, Southern Illinois kept its poise and fought its way to a 21-21 tie when Christine Perry hit a layup at the 4:55 mark. Following a pair of free throws by Molly York and a jumper by Misty Garrett, Tennessee Tech took a 25-21 lead (4:07) before Danielle Lawary came off the Saluki bench to score seven straight points fueling a 7-5 route which enabled the Salukis to pull to within two, 30-28, with 1:59 left to play.
A McDowell layup (:58) along with a clutch jumper by Megan Miller (:11) then matched TTU's bucket by Holt (1:12) and two free throws by Garrett (:03) to bring the half to a tight 34-32 close in favor of the Eaglettes.
Despite being out-shot 48 percent (12-of-25) to 36 percent (14-of-39) from the field, SIU controlled the offensive glass where it out-rebounded TTU 15-3.
Tennessee Tech's defense smothered SIU into seven turnovers in the first 7:20 of the second half. As a result, the Golden Eaglettes ignited a 20-8 run to build their biggest lead of the game to 54-40 with 12:19 remaining. Holt's eight points spearheaded the spurt which came to an end on back-to-back layups by Casey Bradford.
The Salukis, however, kept battling and managed to outscore the Golden Eaglettes 35-28 for the rest of the game, but could only narrow the margin to as little as six points on two occasions-at the 1:39 (77-71) and :57 (79-73) marks - as Tennessee Tech went on to post the 82-75 win.
For the game, Holt shot 9-of-21 from the field and 11-of-12 from the free throw line, while pulling down nine rebounds. Garrett then followed with 18 points to help pace the Eaglette attack.
SIU was led by McDowell who tied a career-high 29 points on 10-of-20 shooting, including 5-of-8 three-pointers. Also scoring in double figures were Geshla Woodard who posted a double-double 11 points, 11 rebounds and Lawary who scored 15 points in 17 minutes off the bench.
The Salukis will return home for a brief two-game stand beginning Wednesday, Dec. 5 when they host Eastern Illinois at 7:05 p.m.
Notes: Both teams shot relatively well from the field-SIU, 44 percent (29-of-66), TTU, 52 percent (26-of-50), Since her return to the court, junior Danielle Lawary has scored 24 points combined in the Salukis' last two games. Lawary has played 26 minutes off the bench since her return, SIU out-rebounded TTU 40-26 which included a 15-3 advantage on the offensive glass, The Salukis were whistled for 21 fouls which resulted in TTU shooting 27-of-32 free throws, while TTU was whistled 18 times allowing SIU to shoot just 12-of-15 freebees, The Salukis knocked down 5-of-18 three-pointers led by McDowell's 5-of-8 display, Woodard's double-double marked her second of the season.
