Southern Illinois University
2-14, 0-7MVC
Evansville*
11-5, 4-3MVC
Women's Basketball Drops Heartbreaker to Evansville, 54-53
01/22/2005 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 22, 2005
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Jennifer Utterback drove the lane and made a running jumper with 11 seconds left to help Evansville (11-5, 4-3) escape with a 54-53 win over Southern Illinois (2-14, 0-7) earlier today at SIU Arena.
After a pair of Laura Gaybrick free throws tied the game at 51-51 with 1:52 left, SIU's Lecretia Akines turned the ball over once and fouled twice in 30 seconds.
Moments after Olivia Grant made a free throw to give UE a 52-51 edge at the 1:22 mark, Akines scored on an in-bounds pass from Amy Hayden underneath the Dawgs' basket to regain a 53-52 (:25) advantage for SIU.
A short 14 seconds later, Utterback's clutch jumper sealed the Salukis' fate, as all six of her points off the bench came in the last 3:20 of the game.
SIU, with the length of the floor to go, had one last chance, but saw it slip away when Hayden's off-balance shot near the free throw line went wide of the rim.
Despite shooting 29 percent (9-of-31) from the field, SIU led the entire first half.
Thanks to two three-pointers, one each from Daphney Desamours and Danette Jones, the Salukis built an early 10-2 lead in the first 4:45.
Meanwhile, it appeared as though the Purple Aces were taking themselves out of the game by turning the ball over. Especially in the first 5:17, where they committed seven of their 13 first half miscues.
After a second three from Desamours gave the Dawgs a nine-point advantage (13-4) at the 14:43 mark UE later cut SIU's lead to five (25-20), after Gaybrick completed a conventional three-point play with less than a minute (:51) remaining in the opening stanza.
UE scored the first five points of the second half and quickly brought the game to a 25-25 tie when Megan Liffick made a pair of free throws at the 18:37 mark.
The Purple Aces, however, never led by more than four (34-30) the rest of the game.
Although committing its lowest number of turnovers (15) against a Missouri Valley Conference opponent this season, SIU had 10 in the second half.
UE, on the other hand, despite turning the ball over 19 times and struggling to a 4-of-21 (19 percent) mark from behind the three-point line, went 14-of-18 (77.8 percent) at the free throw line, and out-rebounded the Salukis, 41-29.
SIU only shot 8-of-13 for 61.5 percent at the charity stripe.
Gaybrick led all UE scorers with 13 points on 4-of-8 field goals and a perfect 5-of-5 free throws. She also had seven rebounds.
Desamours topped SIU with 15 points, as one of three Salukis scoring double-digits. Jones followed with 13, while India Bruster chipped in 10.
SIU hits the road to visit Indiana State on Jan. 27 at 7 p.m., CST.
