Southern Illinois University
7-17, 3-12MVC
Bradley
12-12, 8-7MVC
Women's Basketball Loses to Bradley, 83-68
02/27/2003 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 27, 2003
Carbondale, Ill. - Ashley Chelleen scored 17 points to lead four starters in double figures, as Bradley (12-12, 8-7) coasted to a 83-68 win over Southern Illinois (7-17, 3-12) earlier tonight at SIU Arena. The Braves also registered 17 steals, while out-rebounding the Salukis, 48-33.
BU, who completed a two-game sweep over SIU this season, led the game from the 14:52 mark of the first half all the way to the final buzzer.
After a Danette Jones jumper narrowed BU's lead to 17-14 with 10:50 left to play in the first half, the Braves used a 17-4 run to take a commanding 34-18 lead. Holding the Dawgs to just four points in 7:03, BU hit five free throws during the spurt, including three from Chelleen.
SIU pulled to within 10 (35-25) on a Molly McDowell layup with 1:41 on the clock, but BU regained a 41-28 lead at the break.
The Braves protected the ball well in the game's opening 20 minutes where they turned the ball over just six times to the Dawgs' 13.
SIU would narrow the BU margin to 45-35 early in the second half when Hillary Phillips connected from behind the three-point arc with 18:11 remaining.
From that point on, the Braves did not let the Salukis get any closer. A Va'Nicia Waterman layup gave BU its biggest lead of the game at 74-51 with 4:43 left. A Chelleen layup gave the Braves another 23-point lead (76-53) just one minute and thirty-five seconds later before BU cruised to the 83-68 win.
BU made 41 percent (13-of-32) of its field goals in the first half and 46 percent (15-of-33) of its shots in the second. Meanwhile, SIU finished the game at 38 percent, making 23-of-61 attempts from the floor.
Chelleen was 5-of-6 from the field and 7-of-9 from the free throw line for the Braves. Waterman followed with 16 points, while Genny Mueller added 12 and Rasheeda Love pitched in 10 to round out the attack.
SIU was led by McDowell's 15 points on 5-of-15 from the field and 4-of-4 from the foul line. Phillips followed with 11, while Tiffany Crutcher and Jones each had 10.
SIU will honor its seniors on Saturday, March 1 when the Salukis face Northern Iowa in their last home game of the season. Tip off is at 2:05 p.m.
