Women's Basketball Loses at SMS, 86-56
03/06/2003 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
March 6, 2003
Springfield, Mo. - Southwest Missouri State (14-12, 10-7) made 11 three-pointers en route to a commanding 86-56 win over Southern Illinois (7-19, 3-14) earlier tonight in front of 6,555 fans at Hammons Center. The 11 three-pointers added to a single season record of 173 treys for the Lady Bears.
For SMS, the win marked its 13th straight over SIU, as the Salukis' hopes of making this year's MVC Tournament vanished.
SIU led just one time in the game early in the first half, and trailed by just three points (29-26) at the break.
After a Molly McDowell three-pointer cut SMS' lead to 34-32 with 18:13 left in the game, that was as close as the Dawgs would get before the Lady Bears blew the game wide open.
Ahead 40-36, SMS used a 10-0 run fueled by five free throws, including two apiece by Kari Koch and Sarah Klaassen.
Following a media timeout, back-to-back three-pointers by Nicole Lehman and Jenni Lingor ignited another run, this time 11-2. The jaunt also consisted of five more free throws that helped give SMS a 71-49 lead with 5:05 remaining.
The Lady Bears would make five more free throws to go along with a couple baskets and a pair of three-pointers in the last 4:11 to seal the 86-56 win.
SMS made a stunning 23-of-30 free throws, while SIU hit just 1-of-6. Five Lady Bears scored double figures led by Koch and Klaassen who scored 16 points apiece. Lingor followed with 15, while Morgan Hohenberger and Meg Tierney each had 11. Tierney also pulled down 11 rebounds.
After being held to just two points in the first half, McDowell rallied to score 13 second half points en route to finishing as the Salukis' leading scorer with 15. McDowell shot 6-of-16 from the field and 3-of-10 from three-point range.
SIU was also out-rebounded 48-31, and was whistled for 21 fouls which outweighed SMS' 10.
The Salukis will conlude their 2002-03 season Sunday, March 9 at Wichita State. Tip off is at 2 p.m.