Southern Illinois University
2-16, 0-9
Illinois State*
6-12, 3-6
Women's Basketball Loses, 81-44, at Illinois State
01/29/2005 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 29, 2005
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
NORMAL, Ill. - Illinois State (6-12, 3-6) had all three of its leading scorers this season pitch in double figures, and drained 13 three-pointers in a 81-44 win over Southern Illinois (2-16, 0-9) earlier today at Redbird Arena.
The loss, which marked SIU's 10th in a row, dropped the Salukis to 0-9 to start league play for the third time in four years.
Needless to say, it was a long day for the Salukis in Redbird Country.
SIU turned the ball over three times and missed its first nine field goals, and ILS jumped out to an early 11-0 lead to start the first half.
And, from that point on, things fell apart for the Dawgs.
Smothered by an intense trapping defense, SIU shot a frigid 20.8 percent (5-of-24) from the floor and fell behind by as many as 30 (40-10) before going into the locker room down, 40-13.
Also limited to only six points in the first 16:11 of the game, SIU turned the ball over 11 times and fell victim to a barrage of six ILS three-pointers, including two each from Jaci McCormack and Katie Donovan.
Lecretia Akines scored her team's first six points of the second half to try to give SIU some life, but her effort wasn't enough.
Meanwhile, the Redbirds continued to do the things that hurt SIU in the first half, like make three-pointers and play good defense.
With the help of seven more treys, ILS led by as many as 39 (81-42) on a Ashley Sandstead layup (:22) before polishing off the 81-44 win.
Today's loss marked SIU's largest of the season and second by 30 or more points.
Danette Jones led all Saluki scorers with 18 points on 7-of-14 field goals, including 3-of-8 from downtown.
The only other Salukis close to Jones were Akines and India Bruster, who followed with six points apiece. Bruster also grabbed 10 rebounds. ILS was led by Donovan's 16 points, while McCormack followed with 14 and Megan McCracken chipped in 10.
The Redbirds shot 13-of-28 from behind the arc on the afternoon to fuel their boiling .518 (29-of-56) field goal percentage.
Additionally, ILS out-rebounded the Dawgs, 41-30, and scored 29 points off turnovers.
SIU starts its second half of league play at home on Feb. 3, when the Salukis host Wichita State. Tip off is at 7:05 p.m.
