Southern Illinois University
2-8, 0-1MVC
Creighton*
7-3, 1-0MVC
Women's Basketball Drops League Opener to Creighton, 85-63
12/31/2004 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 31, 2004
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Two-time Missouri Valley Conference Player-of-the-Year Laura Spanheimer (20), Angie Janis (22) and Kristi Woodard (21) joined forces to match the total number of points scored by Southern Illinois' (2-8, 0-1) entire team, as Creighton (7-3, 1-0) posted a 85-63 win earlier tonight in both teams' league opener at SIU Arena.
The win marked CU's eighth in its last nine trips to Carbondale.
SIU hung tough with CU early on where it took a 9-6 lead on a Lecretia Akines jumper with 14:41 left in the first half.
Shortly after Akines hit another jumper to give the Salukis a 12-11 edge (12:43), SIU missed shots on five of its next six possessions.
As a result, the Bluejays strung together a 10-2 run sparked by Spanheimer and Kristi Woodard, who each accounted for four points during the surge.
Ahead nine (22-13) with 8:53 remaining, CU saw its lead fall to three when a Danette Jones jumper made it 22-19 (5:06).
CU, however, would outscore SIU 12-8 in the final five minutes to take a 34-27 lead at the break.
The Bluejays opened up the second half with a 10-0 run to up their lead to 44-27. Woodard and Spanheimer each connected from three-point range, while Janis chipped in a pair of layups in the quick 2:24 span.
SIU, who turned the ball over on three occasions during CU's 10-point assault, never recovered, as the Bluejays would lead by as many as 24 (63-39) before putting the Dawgs away.
CU shot a blazing 53.3 percent (37-of-71) from the field and collected 14 steals courtesy of 20 SIU turnovers. The Jays also outrebounded the Salukis, 39-32.
Janis finished at 10-of-16 from the floor, while Spanheimer (9-of-14) and Woodard (10-of-23) each pitched in at least nine field goals.
Meanwhile, Jones' 19 points topped four players scoring in double-digits for SIU. Elyse Morris, Wendy Goodman and Akines each followed with 10.
For both Morris and Akines, their 10 points marked career highs.
The Salukis shot a season-high 28-of-31 (90.3) from the free throw line, as Jones' perfect 11-of-11 paved the way.
SIU returns to action Sunday when it hosts Drake at 5:05 p.m.
