Southern Illinois University
15-9, 11-2MVC
Northern Iowa
13-11, 7-6MVC
Women's Basketball sneaks past Panthers, 49-46
02/11/2007 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 11, 2007
By Shalae Schulte
www.siusalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Despite being held to its lowest point total of the season, the Southern Illinois women's basketball team persevered for its second-straight come from behind win, 49-46, over Northern Iowa in Missouri Valley Conference play Sunday afternoon.
The Salukis (15-9, 11-2) picked up their 15th win of the regular season and 11th win of the conference season in front of the 11th-largest home crowd in program history. The win totals are the best from an SIU team since the 1995-96 team that went 18-10 overall and 15-3 in The Valley.
The game was tied 12-12 with 6:35 left in the first period before the Panther's went on an 11 to 4 run to end the half and take a 23-16 into the locker room at the break.
The Panthers led by as many as 10 points three times throughout the second half before the Salukis came back to tie the game 43-43 on a Dana Olsen jumper with 2:14 left in the game.
SIU then surged ahead on a layup by Erica Smith at the 1:37 mark. UNI pulled within one on a free throw before Erin Pauk hit a jumper to put SIU up by three. The Panthers threatened again on a layup by Jessie Biggs with just under a minute to play before two clutch free throws by Pauk put the game away for good.
Southern countered a season-low shooting percentage (33.3 percent, 18-of-54) from the field with a season-high 50 boards, out-rebounding Northern Iowa by 22. SIU finished with three players with double-digit boards.
Pauk along with Erica Smith, chipped in a team-high 13 points each. Smith also added a career-high 11 boards for her second double-double along with three assists and a steal. Pauk added six rebounds.
Carlai Moore and Jayme Sweere recorded an identical five points and 10 rebounds each, Sweere adding two assists and three steals.
UNI, now 13-11 overall and 7-6 in league play, was led by Tara King with a game-high 20 points and seven rebounds. Jessie Biggs added 11 points, five rebounds and five assists.
The Salukis return to the road for a two-game swing at Drake and Creighton Feb. 16 and 18.
