Southern Illinois University
3-11 (2-2MVC)
Drake University
10-5 (3-2MVC)
Women's Basketball takes down Drake at home, 80-60
01/14/2010 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 14, 2010
By Shalae Patrick
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Christine Presswood recorded a career-best 30 points to help the Southern Illinois women's basketball team to a 20-point victory over Drake, 80-60, in Missouri Valley Conference play Thursday afternoon on SIU's Fourth Annual Field Trip Day at SIU Arena.
The win pushes the Salukis to 3-11 overall and 2-2 in The Valley and drops the Bulldogs to 10-5 on the year and 3-2 in league play.
The game was tied eight-all at the 14:30 mark before SIU pulled ahead on a Stephany Neptune layup. The Salukis led the remainder of the game, DU pulling within one point, 11-10, before SIU jumped out to lead by as many as 11 points in the first half.
The Salukis led the rest of the game, their largest lead of 20 as time expired.
"It has been an emotional week but I am extremely proud of the effort that we got from our kids today," Saluki head coach Missy Tiber said. "They played extremely hard for 40 minutes and they did everything that we asked them to do. Of course we are undersized and teams are going to take advantage of that, but we took advantage today. We didn't allow a three to be made on us and I think that was the key to the game."
SIU was 10-of-21 from beyond the 3-point line, holding DU scoreless from beyond the arc.
"For the first time all year we had a positive assist to turnover ratio," Tiber added. "That is the biggest difference in a game."
SIU recorded 18 assists to a season-low 13 turnovers.
Presswood recorded five rebounds, five assists and a steal to go with her 30 points, while Teri Oliver finished with her career-high 25 points, 6-of-9 from the 3-point line, adding three steals and four rebounds.
Neptune added 15 points and 12 boards to go with six assists, three steals and a block for her sixth double-double of the season.
Rachael Hackbarth led Drake with 24 points, 11-of-18 from the field, while Jordann Plummer and Monique' Jones pitched in 13 and 10 points respectively.
"At Bradley, I thought it was coming, we were there. We played exceptionally well and we came out in the second half and could not make a shot," Tiber said. "Today, we came out and made our first three and that was the biggest difference in the game. We shot consistently the first five minutes of the half."
The Salukis return to action Saturday, hosting Creighton for a 2:05 p.m. tip-off.
