Southern Illinois University
Northern Iowa
Women's Basketball falls at Northern Iowa, 64-43
01/07/2010 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 7, 2010
By Shalae Patrick
www.SIUSalukis.com
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - Jacqui Kalin scored 21 points, shooting 8-of-11 from the field, to power the Northern Iowa women's basketball team past Southern Illinois, 64-43, in Missouri Valley Conference play Thursday night in the McLeod Center.
The Salukis (2-10, 1-1 MVC) shot a season-low 25.9 percent (15-of-58) from the field and was out-rebounded by the Panthers (5-9, 1-2 MVC) 47-to-35.
"We just didn't compete," Saluki head coach Missy Tiber said. "This is the first game all season, and I'm really disappointed in the effort. You can't go on the road and think you're going to put yourself in a situation to win when that is the case. In the first half, we had our share of wide open shots, we just didn't put the ball in the basket."
UNI jumped out to 5-point lead to start the game, SIU held scoreless until Stephany Neptune hit a layup at the 15:39 mark.
Southern would pull ahead by two, 11-9 at 12:34 on two free throws by Katerina Garcia, before UNI would pull back ahead with a jumper and three free throws.
The Salukis pulled within two, 17-15, before the Panthers went on a 15-to-2 run to end the half and take a 32-17 lead into the locker room at the break.
UNI held its largest lead of the game by 26, 56-30, with 8:17 left to play, but SIU couldn't overcome the Panther's depth, as 14 players saw action, no playersin the game for more than 25 minutes.
Christine Presswood led the Salukis with 15 points, all in the second half. Neptune finished with 10 points and nine rebounds, adding a block and a steal.
Katrina Swingler came off the bench for eight points, Latoya Hambrick pitching in seven boards.
Along with Kalin, Lizzie Boeck added 12 points and eight rebounds for the Panthers. K.K. Armstrong recorded 10 points off the bench, along with six points and 10 boards from Erin Brocka.
"You get on the road and you'd better be ready to play and we just weren't, for whatever reason," Tiber added. "I know what we're capable of doing, I've seen it. It's (the coaching staff's) job now to make sure in the next day and a half to get our confidence back and get in the right mind set to start doing the things we are capable of doing."
The Salukis wrap up this road swing Saturday, Jan. 9, at Bradley. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.
