Southern Illinois University
0-5
Tennessee Tech
1-3
Women's Basketball Loses to Tennessee Tech, 88-71
12/03/2003 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 3, 2003
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Casey Bradford scored a career-high 18 points to lead five players in double figures, as Tennessee Tech (1-3) cruised past Southern Illinois (0-5), 88-71, earlier tonight at the Eblen Center. Bradford was joined by Jenna Baltimore and Emily Christian who each registered 17 points, Courtney McFarlin who added 11 and Kendall Cavin who pitched in 10.
With the loss, SIU is 0-5 to open a season for the first time in school history. The closest to that mark was a 0-4 start by the Salukis under former head coach Cindy Scott in 1988-89.
In the first half, which saw seven lead changes and two ties, SIU managed to build a four-point lead on two occasions in the first 6:38 of the game. The Salukis' early threats, however, were short-lived as Tiffany Crutcher and Katie Berwanger each picked up two early fouls for the third consecutive game and had to sit the majority of the half.
After a layup by Stephanie Brown gave SIU a 22-20 advantage with 10:13 remaining, TTU unloaded with a 21-2 run to regain a commanding 41-24 lead at the 1:36 mark. Baltimore knocked down a pair of three-pointers, while Kendall Cavin scored six straight to lead the rampage, as six different Golden Eaglettes scored. Cavin's stretch of six also came in less than a minute and SIU went scoreless for 7:11, while TTU soared to a 43-29 lead at the break.
TTU connected on 7-of-12 (.583) three-pointers to stun SIU from behind the arc early on. Baltimore, Christian and Arleigh Brackin each had two apiece to account for the barrage. The Golden Eaglettes also cashed in on 13 Saluki turnovers to score 14 points.
Like most of the other games this season, SIU found itself too far behind early on and never quite recovered. Needless to say, the Salukis did rally in the second half, and as a result, narrowed TTU's 24-point lead to 83-71 on a Jones three with 2:21 left, but the long ball came a little to late, as the Golden Eaglettes ran away with the 88-71 win.
Bradford shot 8-of-14 from the field and 2-of-3 from the foul line to cap off her career night. She also pulled down eight rebounds. Christian followed with a 7-of-10 display from the floor which included a perfect 3-of-3 from downtown. Meanwhile, Baltimore hit 6-of-9, including 4-of-6 from long range. For the game, the Golden Eaglettes hit 58 percent (11-of-19) of their shots from three-point range.
Jones led all Saluki scorers with a career-high 17 points on 6-of-12 field goals and 3-of-4 free throws. Jones' new mark surpassed her previous career high of 16 which was done on four occasions, including two this season. Tiffany Crutcher followed with 13, Dana Pinkston and Wendy Goodman each had 12 and Katie Berwanger had 10 to round out SIU's scoring. For Goodman, her dozen also marked a career high.
SIU will break for 11 days before returning to the court to play at DePaul on Sunday, Dec. 14. Tip off is set for 4:30 p.m., at Allstate Arena in Chicago.
Notes: The Dawgs were without Jodi Heiden and Bernettra Grayer. Heiden was injured during SIU's pre-game practice and Grayer went down early in the game and did not return. Heiden did not dress.
