Southern Illinois University
17-9, 13-2MVC
Creighton
10-15, 7-7MVC
Bench key in road victory over Creighton, 67-56
02/18/2007 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 18, 2007
By Shalae Schulte
www.siusalukis.com
OMAHA, Neb. - Southern Illinois' Erin Pauk and Jasmine Gibson came off the bench to combine for 30 points to help the Salukis (17-9, 13-2) to their fifth-straight victory over Creighton (10-15, 7-7), 67-56, in Missouri Valley Conference play at the Omaha Civic Auditorium Sunday afternoon.
The victory marks a sweep of the Blue Jays this season, the fourth sweep in MVC play this year for the first-place Salukis, the most since 1996 when SIU swept five league opponents.
The game remained close the first period before CU went up on a Sam Schuett three, 22-21, with 4:03 left in the half. SIU came back to hold the Jays scoreless for the final four minutes of the first half, taking a 31-22 lead into the locker room at the break.
The Salukis held their lead the entire second half, the Blue Jays threatening four times, coming within three. Southern always had an answer leading by as many as 13 with 30 seconds left in regulation before Creighton's Chevelle Herring drove in for a layup to pull within 11.
Southern put three players in double figures, shooting nearly 47 percent from the field, the best offensive performance in three games for the Salukis after being held under 50 points the last two games.
Gibson recorded a game-high 16 points, along with six boards and a block, while Pauk added 14 points, and two assists.
Jayme Sweere also added 16, to go with four boards, two assists and a steal. Sweere and Pauk were both 4-of-5 from beyond the arc for the Salukis.
Carlai Moore chipped in six boards, six points and four assists, while Erica Smith recorded a game-high 13 rebounds to go with six points, three assists and a steal.
Megan Neuvirth paced Creighton with her second career double-double, 14 points, 12 boards. Ally Thrall and Kristina Voss added nine points each, Sam Schuett added 10 rebounds for the Jays.
SIU wraps up conference play on the road, 8-1, the team's best showing in MVC history.
The Salukis return home for the final three games of the regular season. SIU will host Evansville Friday, Feb. 23 at 7:35 p.m. for a "Pink Out" of SIU Arena for breast cancer awareness.
