Southern Illinois University
8-112-8; MVC
Evansville
5-412-8; MVC
Women's Basketball wins sixth straight over Evansville, 69-55
01/27/2007 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 27, 2007
By Shalae Schulte
www.siusalukis.com
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - Southern Illinois' Carlai Moore scored a game high 22 points and added nine boards, to push the Salukis (12-8, 8-1) past Evansville (12-8, 5-4), 69-55, for their sixth-straight victory in Roberts Stadium Saturday afternoon in Missouri Valley Conference action.
The streak marks the first time since 1995-96 that Southern has won six in a row. The Salukis won seven straight during MVC play 11 years ago, under former head coach Cindy Scott.
The Purple Aces held the lead three times in the first 10 minutes of the game before a Moore jumper with 8:47 left in the first half put the Salukis up for good.
Southern took an 11-point lead into the locker room at halftime, 35-24.
Another Moore jumper gave the Salukis their largest lead of the game, 43-26, with 15:45 left to play.
Debbie Burris chipped in 17 points, including a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line. The junior guard was 3-of-6 from beyond the arc, burying a three for the 19th straight game.
Forwards Jasmine Gibson and Dana Olsen combined for 12 points and six boards, despite foul trouble.
Sophomore guard Erica Smith added five points, four boards, six assists and two steals for the Salukis.
Evansville, leading the league in turnover margin at 4.6 per game, were forcing over 21 turnovers per game. The Salukis forced 20 UE turnovers, committing just 15 in the contest, just the second time this season, the Aces have committed more turnovers than their opponents.
SIU capitalized on UE mishaps, converting those turnovers into 21 Saluki points.
Southern also won the boards, 33-28, converting 11 key offensive boards into 17 second chance points.. The Salukis shut out the Aces on the offensive boards in the first half, and held them to just six the second half.
Robyn Jennings led the Aces with 12 points, and Courtney Felke added 11.
SIU ended a five-game drought against UE, and a nine-year drought in Evansville dating back to 1998.
The Salukis stay on the road for a two-game swing to Indiana State and Illinois State. Thursday, Feb. 2 SIU will face the Sycamores at 7 p.m. The Redbirds play host to SIU Sunday, Feb. 4. A 1:05 p.m. tip off is scheduled.
