Southern Illinois University
5-5, 1-0MVC
Illinois State
5-5, 0-1MVC
Women's Basketball stomps Illinois State, 87-65
12/30/2005 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 30, 2005
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
NORMAL, Ill. - Carlai Moore became the first Saluki to score over 30 points in a game in two years when she poured in a career-high 31 to lead Southern Illinois (5-5, 1-0) to a 87-65 win over Illinois State (5-5, 0-1) earlier tonight in both teams' Missouri Valley Conference opener at Redbird Arena.
The win marked SIU's first in a Valley opener since the Dawgs beat Indiana State, 64-62, on the road in 1999-00. It also snapped a four-game losing streak against the `Birds.
"It's a huge win and hopefully there's more in this program's re-birth so to speak," said Saluki head coach Dana Eikenberg.
SIU jumped all over the Redbirds from the opening tip, as its swarming defense and red-hot shooting created all sorts of havoc.
Jayme Sweere, who was held scoreless in her previous outing against Saint Louis on Dec. 22, exploded for 18 points, while Moore poured in 13 to account for all but 14 of the Dawgs' points in the first half.
SIU held a slight 10-8 edge at the 15:30 mark before stringing together an 18-7 run. Sweere scored the last eight points of the surge, including six from downtown, as the Dawgs took a 28-15 lead with 9:28 remaining.
ILS managed to cut the Saluki lead to seven (28-21) on a pair of Kristi Cirone free throws at the 7:35 mark, but SIU answered with a 17-8 jaunt, as Katy Freeman's baseline jumper with five ticks left capped a 45-30 halftime lead.
SIU continued to pound away at ILS in the second half.
After ILS sliced the lead to 13 (49-36) on LaShawn Johnson's layup with 18:30 left, SIU scored on six of its next seven possessions to slam the door on the `Birds.
Moore had eight points to ignite a 17-8 spurt which gave the Dawgs their biggest lead of the game (66-44), as the Redbirds never recovered.
SIU's 87 points were the most in a conference game since the Salukis pitched in 84 in a 98-84 loss to Indiana State on Feb. 12, 2004.
Moore made 11-of-15 field goals and a perfect 9-of-9 free throws en route to her career night. She also had eight boards, as she became the first Saluki to score 30 or more points in a game since Danette Jones had 33 at Bradley on Jan. 31, 2004.
"I focused on the little things like running fast, playing defense, rebounding and just having fun," said Moore. "I wanted to set the tone for our conference season."
Sweere matched her career-high 28 points on 10-of-20 field goals, including 3-of-4 from downtown. A native of Springfield, Mo., she also knocked down 5-of-6 free throws, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out five assists.
Sweere said after the game that her team's defensive pressure keyed the win.
"It feels great to get our first conference win," said Sweere. "Defense was our focus all week and it all came together tonight."
SIU scored 22 points and collected 10 steals off 17 Redbird turnovers.
Freeman also tied a career-high with 14 points.
The Salukis also shot 52 percent (32-of-63) from the field and outrebounded ILS, 41-29.
Meanwhile, the Redbirds, who averaged seven three-pointers a game going into their conference opener, made only 1-of-12 from behind the arc.
SIU rings in the New Year at MVC preseason favorite Indiana State Sunday at 1p.m., CST. That game will be broadcast live on WCIL 1020 AM.
