Southern Illinois University
4-9, 0-5MVC
Drake
9-6, 4-2MVC
Women's Basketball Suffers 76-46 Loss At Drake
01/18/2003 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 18, 2003
Des Moines, Iowa - Senior center Carla Bennett exploded for 16 second half points to lead Drake (9-6, 4-2) to a 76-46 win over Southern Illinois (4-9, 0-5) earlier today at the Knapp Center. Bennett finished the game with 22 points and four rebounds.
The win marked Drake's 14th straight over SIU, who has now lost seven of its last eight games.
SIU and Drake struggled to find the basket in the first half, where both teams combined for a mere 11 points in the game's opening 8:54.
The Salukis, who missed six shots and committed four turnovers on 10 straight possessions, fell victim to a 14-4 Bulldog run sparked by back-to-back buckets from Maureen Head.
Following the cold spell, SIU suddenly heated up from behind the three-point arc, where it hit all the shots it needed to keep the game within reach.
The Dawgs hit 40 percent (4-of-10) of their attempts from downtown, including a pair by Molly McDowell. McDowell's second trey cut Drake's lead to 21-15 with 7:35 remaining.
Another three-pointer, this time by Megan Miller, narrowed the Bulldogs' margin to 23-18 (5:15), but Drake used a final 12-4 run to silence the Saluki attack.
Drake scored nearly (5-of-6) half of its dozen points at the free throw line, before Nicole Denmon landed a three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Bulldogs a 35-22 lead at the break.
In the second half, SIU's defense fell apart. Bennett, who was held to just six points in the first half, caught fire for 11 points in 5:51 to ignite a stunning 25-9 run.
Towards the end of the surge, Drake scored nine straight points, including five from Denmon, to take a 60-31 lead with 8:04 on the clock.
SIU, who hit just two field goals in the first 12:47 of the second half, never recovered, as the Bulldogs coasted to the 76-46 win.
Bennett shot 8-of-11 from the field and 6-of-8 from the free throw line to lead all Drake scorers. Denmon, who knocked down 3-of-6 three-pointers, followed with 15 points, while Head also chipped in 15.
Meanwhile, SIU did not have one player score in double figures, marking the first time this season. Tiffany Crutcher was the closest to double-digits with seven points. Five Salukis were also whistled for four fouls, including starters Katie Berwanger, Jodi Heiden and McDowell. Additionally, the Salukis hit just 4-of-28 from the field in the second half, before finishing the game with a 12-of-59 (.203) mark.
Drake's potent inside attack also held a shocking 54-15 advantage in the paint.
SIU returns home for three straight games, beginning Thursday, Jan. 23. The Dawgs will play host to Illinois State at 7:05 p.m.
