Southern Illinois University
5-6, 1-0MVC
Indiana State
6-5, 0-1MVC
Women's Basketball smashes Sycamores in Valley Opener
01/03/2008 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 3, 2008
By Shalae Patrick
www.siusalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The defending Missouri Valley Conference champion Southern Illinois women's basketball team put five players in double-figures, shooting nearly 57 percent from the field to dominate Indiana State Thursday night, 95-76, in SIU Arena.
The Salukis (5-6, 1-0 MVC) picked up their third-straight MVC season opener and their second victory in the last three meeting with the Sycamores (6-5, 0-1 MVC).
"“I thought that it was the best game of the season for us," Salukis head coach Dana Eikenberg said. "And probably one of the best that I have been associated with purely because of three things: one, their guts; two, their dependability to each other; and a true competitive spirit.”"
The Salukis drew first blood on a jumper by Jasmine Gibson just seven second into the game.
The game was tied three times, the last at 8-8, in the first four minutes before an Ellen Young 3-pointer followed by two Jayme Sweere jumpers and another three from Tanaeya Worden put Southern up by 10.
Young would score 15 of her game-high 25 points from beyond the arc as the freshman, along with fellow rookie Worden, would combine for 10 treys in the contest, 10-of-18 from beyond the arc.
The Salukis led by as many as 17 in the first, shooting 55 percent (21-of-38) from the field for a season-high 52 first-half points.
The Sycamores threatened in the waning minutes of the half, going on an 11-to-2 run to come within six at the break, 52-46.
Young started the second half with eight of SIU's first 10 points to go back up 14, 62-48, and the Salukis maintained a 15 to 20-point lead the remainder of the contest.
Southern put five in double-figures for the second time this season, led by Young's 25. Worden matched a career-best 17, adding two assists and a block.
The Salukis' leading scorer Jasmine Gibson battled foul trouble, fouling out with just under four minutes to play, still recording 17 points, eight boards and an assist.
Erica Smith and Sweere chipped in 14 and 13 points respectively. Sweere added five boards, four assists, a block and a steal, while Smith dished out six assists and two steals. Cortney Sales grabbed a career-high 10 boards, adding four points and steal.
"“We are a little undersized and don’t have great depth," Eikenberg said of her team, "but I don’t think tonight that you would look into any of these kids faces and thought that they weren’'t giving absolutely everything. That'’s what it is going to take to be in the Valley.”"
Southern continues Valley play Saturday when they take on Indiana State's travel partner, Illinois State, for a 2:05 p.m. tip-off in SIU Arena. The 11-1 Redbirds defeated Evansville Thursday to open MVC play.
