Southern Illinois University
4-12 (0-7MVC)
Illinois State
15-4 (6-1MVC)
Women's Basketball drops eighth-straight at Illinois State
01/24/2009 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 24, 2009
By Shalae Patrick
www.siusalukis.com
NORMAL, Ill. - The Illinois State (15-4, 6-1) women's basketball team opened the game on a 8-to-2 run and never looked back handing Southern Illinois (4-12, 0-7) its seventh-straight loss in Missouri Valley Conference play, 75-51, Saturday afternoon at Redbird Arena.
The Redbirds shot 52 percent (26-of-50) from the field and 90 percent (18-of-20) from the free throw line to take down the Salukis. The two-time defending Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year Kristi Cirone led Illinois State with a game-high 18 points and five assists.
"That's a great Illinois State team," Saluki head coach Dana Eikenberg said. "Cirone is the best. You know you have the best guard when she can make a lot of things happen. I think that team's cooking right now, playing really well."
Illinois State led 40-29 at the break. The Salukis pulled within nine, 42-33, with 18 and a half left to play before the Redbirds went on a 14-to-1 run to go up 22, 56-34, with 13 and half left to play.
The Salukis shot just 32.8 percent (20-of-61) from the field and 13.3 percent (2-of-15) beyond the arc.
"We're not playing well, we're not utilizing our strengths." Eikenberg said. "We haven't really clicked yet. If we can find that I think this team can be a little more competitive and confident, We just need to find that."
SIU was out-rebounded 43-to-27 by the ILS.
Erica Smith led the Salukis with 11 points, five rebounds, two steals and two assists, while Jasmine Gibson came off the bench for 11 points and two rebounds.
The Salukis return to action Thursday, January 29 when they host Wichita State for a 7:05 p.m. tip-off.
