Southern Illinois University
9-17, 5-12MVC
Indiana State
23-4, 15-2MVC
Women's basketball loses to Indiana State, 82-70
03/02/2006 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
March 2, 2006
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Rachel Maenpaa led four Sycamores in double figures and Indiana State (23-4, 15-2) shot 52.8 percent en route to an 82-70 win over Southern Illinois (9-17, 5-12) earlier tonight at SIU Arena. With the win, INS clinched its first Missouri Valley Conference regular-season title outright.
"We played with a lot of emotion tonight and it was good to see that," said Saluki head coach Dana Eikenberg. "I thought we truly battled with the best team in our conference."
INS dismantled SIU's defense for 26 unanswered points in the paint in the first half, and it appeared as though the rout was on.
Knotted at 12-12 with 14:10 remaining, the Valley's all-time leader in steals, Melanie Boeglin stole the ball from Saluki point guard Erin Pauk at the top of the key and went the length of the court for an easy deuce.
Boeglin's bunny not only ignited an 11-0 run, but it started a series of nine INS layups over the next 11 minutes, as the Sycamores cruised to a 44-30 halftime lead.
While INS controlled the first half, it was SIU who battled back to take the second.
SIU quickly chopped the Trees' lead down to single-digits (47-39) with the help of a Jasmine Gibson jumper and seven-straight points by Jayme Sweere nearly three minutes into the second half.
Down, 58-38, following a Maenpaa jumper at the 12:20 mark, SIU went on an 11-2 run to pull to within a point (60-59). Three-pointers by Erica Smith and Carlai Moore keyed the surge, which ended on a pair of Gibson free throws with 8:30 left.
SIU pulled to within one on two other occasions, and after Moore's jumper made it, 64-63, (6:55), INS answered with a 10-1 run over a period of 2:09 to put the game out of reach.
Leah Phillips, who came off the bench to drain three 3-pointers (two during the Sycamore run), helped INS outscore SIU, 18-7, in the last six minutes.
"We were forcing the outside shot, and at one time, I think Phillips pulled up for one at least five-feet from behind the arc," said Eikenberg. "There aren't many teams in Division I basketball that can stop someone shooting from 25-feet. Leah's a great shooter, and it's shooting like that which makes Indiana State the number one team."
INS overpowered SIU to a 42-10 advantage inside the paint. The Sycamores also scored 21 points off 12 Saluki turnovers.
Offensively, Maenpaa paved the way with 21 points, while Boeglin followed with 18 points and nine assists. Weddle and Phillips added 15 apiece.
"Maenpaa is very strong and very skilled, and she just went to work down low," said Eikenberg. "In the second half, I thought we did a good job of taking away their high-low look."
SIU, who outscored INS, 35-23, off the bench, was led by Moore and Sweere who each poured in 23 points. Moore shot 10-of-18 from the field with an uncharacteristic two three-pointers, while Sweere hit 9-of-17, including 5-of-9 from downtown.
"I thought Carlai and Jayme did a good job defensively and were able to capitalize offensively," said Eikenberg.
The Salukis ended up with 10 three-pointers on the night, six of which were in the first half.
SIU concludes its regular-season at home against Illinois State on Saturday. The Salukis will honor senior Amy Hayden prior to the 2:05 p.m., tip.
