Southern Illinois University
2-11, 0-4
Southwest Missouri State*
8-5, 3-1
Women's Basketball Falls to SMS, 78-48
01/08/2005 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 8, 2005
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - K.C. Cowgill drained five three-pointers en route to a game-high 21 points off the bench to lead Southwest Missouri State (8-5, 3-1) to a 78-48 win over Southern Illinois (2-11, 0-4) earlier today in Missouri Valley Conference action at Hammons Student Center. Cowgill's five treys were part of SMS' 13 on the afternoon.
SIU trailed by five (21-16) before back-to-back three-pointers by Danette Jones gave the Salukis a 22-21 edge nearly 10 minutes into the first half.
Then, aided by several Saluki turnovers, SMS heated up from downtown.
Cowgill drained four of her team's nine three-pointers in the half which simply told the story of what ended up being a stunning 28-4 SMS run over the last 9:30 of the stanza.
Cowgill's trey at the 6:48 mark started the attack. She then drained another with 4:19 left, before Jenni Lingor and Koch joined in on the long range assault.
Jenni Lingor connected with 2:43 on the clock, while Koch hit a pair of threes in 29 seconds to help cap the barrage which carried the Lady Bears to a comfortable 49-28 lead at the break.
Although Jones had four three-pointers of her own in the first half, SIU was unable to come up with a basket for a period of 4:24 in that last nine and a half minute span.
SMS shot a blazing 60 percent (9-of-15) from three-point range. The Lady Bears also turned the ball over only four times, nine less than SIU's 13.
SIU continued to struggle to put points on the board early in the second half.
The Salukis started off scoreless for the first 4:32. As a result, SMS scored seven straight points to push its lead to 56-28. Amy Hayden made a jumper to end SIU's lengthy drought at the 15:28 mark.
SIU had no answer for SMS from there on out, and fell behind by as many as 35 (74-39) before taking their fourth straight conference loss.
SIU has now lost to SMS16 straight times. The Salukis also suffered losses of 29 or more points in five of their last six trips to Springfield.
SMS, who tops the league in three-point field goal percentage, went 13-of-30 from long range today. Cowgill (5), along with Lingor (2), Koch (4), Tahnee Balerio (1) and Nicole Lehman (1) combined for the impressive showing.
Cowgill finished at 6-of-12 from the field, including 5-of-8 from downtown. She also hit a perfect 4-of-4 at the free throw line. Her solid effort helped SMS outscore SIU, 33-11, off the bench.
Koch (18) and Lehman (12) also scored double figures.
Meanwhile, the league's leading scorer, Lingor, was held to just eight points.
For SIU, Jones led all scorers with 15 points on 5-of-10 field goals and 4-of-7 threes. She also went 1-of-2 at the free throw line, grabbed three rebounds, dished out three assists and had one steal.
Jones was the only Saluki scoring in double figures.
SIU returns to Carbondale to host Northern Iowa on Jan. 14. Tip off is at 7:05 p.m.
