Southern Illinois University
1-8
Saint Louis
6-5
Women's Basketball Beats Saint Louis, 68-65
12/29/2003 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 29, 2003
ST. LOUIS, Mo.-- Dana Pinkston hit a conventional three-point play with 6.7 seconds left to give Southern Illinois (1-8) a thrilling 68-65 come-from-behind victory over Saint Louis (6-5) earlier tonight at the Bauman-Eberhardt Center. Pinkston, who shot a three-pointer, grabbed her own rebound and was fouled while making a layup for the game-winner.
Pinkston, who scored a season-high 22 points, including 15 in the second half, shot 8-of-15 from the field, including 4-of-8 from downtown, as the Salukis avoided a winless nine-game, non-conference slate.
SLU came out with a balanced scoring attack, as eight of 14 Billikens scored at least two points in the first half. Clinging to a 12-11 lead 8:11 into the game, SLU went on a 12-2 run to build a 24-13 advantage with 7:32 remaining. Ava Smith (11:31) and Shea Kenny (7:32) each hit three-pointers to lead the charge.
Trailing by 10 with a little over three minutes to play, Amy Hayden scored five points in the last 47 seconds to spark a 7-2 run, and bring the Salukis to within five (32-27) at the break.
Katie Berwanger stole the momentum back for SIU early in the second half, which would see seven ties with neither team leading by more than seven points. Berwanger scored 12 of the Salukis' first 14 points in a span of 11:03 after being held to just four points in the first half.
Berwanger, however, would not score again for the final 8:57, but that didn't seem to matter with the way Pinkston was playing.
After a Pinkston three-pointer tied the game at 62-62 with 1:11 remaining, the native of Junction, Ill., then hit a free throw that added to an ensuing pair of Daphney Desamours freebees which pushed SIU's lead to 65-62 (:31).
Eleven seconds later, Kirsti Holloway hit a huge three-pointer from the top of the key to tie the game at 65-65.
Shortly after her huge steal, Pinkston lofted a three-pointer from the right wing and immediately followed her own shot. There were no Billikens near Pinkston, who swiped her own rebound and drove in to bank in the front-end of what turned out to be the winning three-point play.
With six seconds left, Shea Kenny heaved a desperation three-pointer for the Billikens, but it bounced off the back of the iron, and enabled the Salukis to hold on to the 68-65 win.
Berwanger, who scored 16 points, joined Pinkston as both marked the only two Salukis scoring in double figures.
Angie Lewis led all Billiken scorers with 17 points.
Additionally, SIU outscored SLU, 41-33, in the second half, marking the first time this season that the Salukis have outscored an opponent in a half.
"It was a very exciting win for our team," said an elated head coach Lori Opp. "SLU made a run in the second half, but we kept our composure and made some clutch free throws down the stretch. I was proud of our team's hustle and effort. They never gave up."
SIU opens Missouri Valley Conference action at home against Drake on Saturday, Jan. 3.
