Southern Illinois University
2-12, 1-4
Illinois State*
10-5, 4-2
Women's Basketball Loses to Illinois State, 86-56
01/18/2004 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 18, 2004
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
NORMAL, Ill.-- Illinois State (10-5, 4-2) used a 22-0 run late in the first half before cruising to a 86-56 win over Southern Illinois (2-12, 1-4) earlier today at Redbird Arena. ISU's leading scorer, Katie Donovan, topped the 'Birds with 24 points, including 16 in the first half.
The loss marked SIU's first to ISU at Redbird Arena under head coach Lori Opp.
ISU, who has been accustomed to putting together big runs late in the first half, did just that once again.
Before doing so, however, SIU hung tough and managed to gain a 15-13 advantage despite being whistled for seven fouls in the first 5:46 of the game. A Wendy Goodman bucket at the 9:02 mark capped off six straight SIU points in a span of 54 seconds to give the Dawgs the lead.
Then, ISU used its 22-point surge, as the Salukis went scoreless for nearly five minutes. Donovan scored 10 points, including two three-pointers during the ambush that gave the Redbirds a 35-15 advantage before taking a 42-26 lead at the break.
ISU opened the second half with a 13-4 run and would lead by as many as 31 points before icing its 86-56 win. SIU's major highlight of the second stanza was Tiffany Crutcher (14) who caught fire for nearly half of the Salukis' 30 points in the half. Interestingly enough, Crutcher seemed to score all of those points from the top of the key.
Donovan shot 8-of-16 from the field and 6-of-9 from the free throw line en route to her game-high 24 points. Three other Redbirds followed double-digits, including Taren O'Brien (13), Jaci McCormack (11) and Zorz Skrabalova (10).
Crutcher hit 9-of-16 from the floor, including a 7-of-12 mark in the second half. Katie Berwanger also grabbed 10 rebounds, marking her fourth straight game posting double figures in boards.
SIU also turned the ball over 24 times.
The Salukis will return home to face Wichita State on Thursday, Jan. 22. Tip off is at 7:05 p.m.
