Southern Illinois University
0-2
Middle Tennessee State
2-0
Women's Basktball Falls to Middle Tennessee, 76-62
11/24/2003 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 24, 2003
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - 2003 Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year Patrice Holmes scored 21 points as one of four starters who scored double figures in Middle Tennessee State's (2-0) 76-62 win over Southern Illinois (0-2) earlier tonight at the Murphy Center.
Holmes shot 8-of-13 from the field, 3-of-6 from three-point range and 2-of-3 from the free throw line to pace all Lady Raider scorers. Krystal Horton (13 Pts., 10 Reb.) and Keisha McClinic (10 Pts., 12 Reb.) each followed with double-doubles, and Tia Stovall rounded out the leading four with 13 as well.
MTSU controlled the opening tip and quickly scored on a three-point play by Stovall just four seconds into the game. Stovall's three-point play sparked a 7-0 run for the Lady Raiders which lasted 3:02.
Danette Jones, however, heated up from the outside to get the Salukis back in the game. The native of Salem, Ill., quickly scored eight points, including six from behind the three-point arc to give SIU a 16-13 lead at the 11:18 mark.
After a Holmes' three-ball tied the game on the Lady Raiders' ensuing possession, both teams exchanged baskets until the last 2:12 of the half. A layup by Krystle Horton and two free throws each from Ciara Gray and Stovall put together a 6-0 run to regain a 35-31 lead for MTSU at the break.
SIU hung with MTSU until the 12:19 mark of the second half, where the Lady Raiders used a 12-2 run to build a 16 point lead. The Salukis went 4:15 without a basket during MTSU's spurt, which was ignited by four points from Holmes.
Trailing 65-49, a Jones' three-pointer cut MTSU's lead to eight (68-60) with 4:06 on the clock. The Lady Raiders, however, kept their poise down the stretch and outscored the Salukis, 8-2, to clinch the 76-62 win. Horton scored two easy buckets underneath to power the surge.
SIU was out-rebounded 44-29, as MTSU posted a 20-11 advantage on the offensive glass. Horton had seven of those offensive boards, while Stovall posted five.
Jones tied her high of 16 for the fourth time in her career to lead all Saluki scorers. She shot 6-of-14 from the field, including 4-of-8 from three-point land. The 16-point effort marked the second time in three days she registered that total. Jodi Heiden followed with 13 points in 23 minutes off the bench. Heiden shot 6-of-8 from the field.
SIU will return to action on Friday, Nov. 28 at the Long Island Classic. The Salukis tip off tournament action against host Long Island at 1 p.m., CST.
