Southern Illinois University
2-14, 1-6MVC
SMS*
15-1, 6-0MVC
Women's Basketball Falls to SMS, 84-53
01/24/2004 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 24, 2004
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill.-Southwest Missouri State (15-1, 6-0) used a blanketing defense which posted 21 steals off 26 turnovers en route to a 84-53 win over Southern Illinois (2-14, 1-6) earlier today in Missouri Valley Conference action at SIU Arena.
For SMS, the win marked its 13th straight. Meanwhile, SIU dropped its fourth game in a row and has now lost by 30 or more games in three of its last four outings.
You could hear SMS head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson screaming, "Pressure, pressure, pressure," and that's exactly what the Lady Bears did.
Starting with the first half, SMS forced 13 turnovers, including six in the first 7:09, and roared to a 21-4 lead, as SIU went scoreless for a little over six minutes. Meg Tierney, who scored 18 points in the opening stanza, scored six points, while Jenni Lingor pitched in eight to fuel the attack.
While SMS' smothering defense set the tone for the game by holding SIU to under 10 points for 11:19 of the first half, the Lady Bear offense also did its part and steered SMS to a commanding 49-23 lead at the break.
Tierney hit 5-of-11 from the field, 1-of-1 from three-point range and 7-of-8 from the free throw line to pace SMS in the first half. Two others, including Lingor and Kari Koch also posted double-digits with 10 apiece.
SMS picked up where it left off in the second half, and as a result, used a 21-3 run which consumed a period of 7:35 to blow the game wide open. Leading 53-29 with 18:26 remaining, five different Lady Bears scored to highlight the ambush, which was capped by a K.C. Cowgill layup at the 11:31 mark. Nicole Lehman, Morgan Hohenberger, Lingor and Kari Koch also contributed, as SMS held its biggest lead of the game (74-32) before coasting to its 84-53 win.
Tierney led all SMS scorers with 20 points, while Koch added 15 and both Lehman and Lingor each chipped in 12. The Lady Bears also either reached or surpassed their season-averages in points, free throw percentage and steals.
Amy Hayden scored 14 points off the bench to lead the Salukis. Katie Berwanger also registered double-digits in the scoring column with 11.
SIU will return to action on Thursday, Jan. 29 when it plays at Northern Iowa. Tip off is at 7:05 p.m.
