Southern Illinois University
2-13, 1-5MVC
Wichita State*
5-10, 2-4MVC
Women's Basketball Falls to Wichita State, 75-67
01/22/2004 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 22, 2004
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Tisharria Huggins scored 18 of her game-high 22 points from behind the three-point arc to lead three Shockers in double figures, as Wichita State (5-10, 2-4) posted a clutch 75-67 win over Southern Illinois (2-13, 1-5) earlier tonight at SIU Arena.
The loss marked SIU's third in a row, who fell to 0-7 all-time against the Shockers under head coach Lori Opp.
Whenever SIU threatened, Huggins had an answer in what was arguably one of the finest clutch performances by a Valley player in Carbondale this season.
SIU came out strong by scoring on its first three possessions in the first half. Katie Berwanger, Daphney Desamours and Danette Jones scored consecutively to help lift the Salukis to a 10-4 advantage 4:02 into the game.
After Jones knocked down a pair of free throws, Huggins drained the first of six treys which brought the Shockers to within three, 10-7.
Neither team would lead by more than five points until the last 1:54 of the first half, where WSU used a 6-2 spurt to build a seven-point lead (32-25), before heading into the locker room with a 32-28 cushion.
Following intermission, the Huggins show took over. Trailing, 39-38 (14:37), Huggins hit a three-pointer to regain a 41-39 lead for the Shockers.
After a Julie Madura jumper brought SIU to within five (9:50), Huggins answered with another three-ball to give WSU a 53-45 lead with 9:41 left to play.
Dana Pinkston then hit a pair of free throws to cut WSU's lead to 56-53 (6:25), and it looked as if SIU would finally catch up to the Shockers, but you guessed it, Huggins nailed a three-pointer to expand WSU's lead to 59-53 at the 5:55 mark.
Moments later, Pinkston connected on a jumper to narrow WSU's margin to 59-55 (5:31), and sure enough, Huggins scored again from three-point range, and lifted the Shockers to a 62-55 edge.
One more Huggins three-pointer would seal the win for WSU. Huggins' sixth bomb, which gave the Shockers a 69-61 lead with 2:29 left to play, at last, was all the Salukis could handle, suffering the 75-67 loss.
Huggins shot 6-of-9 from the field with all six of her makes coming from beyond the arc to lead the Shockers. She also hit 4-of-4 from the free throw line. Aubrey Cameron followed with 16 points off the bench.
SIU was led by Pinkston's 17 points, while Jones followed with 16. Tiffany Crutcher and Wendy Goodman also had 10 apiece.
SIU returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 24 when it hosts league-leading Southwest Missouri State at 2:05 p.m.
