Southern Illinois University
2-27, 0-18
Missouri State
21-9, 12-6
Missouri State survives Women's Basketball 70-58
03/05/2011 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
March 5, 2011
By Bill Ford
SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- The Southern Illinois women's basketball team sent its seniors out with one of its finest efforts of the season despite ending the regular season with a 70-58 loss to Missouri State Saturday at SIU Arena.
The Salukis (2-27, 0-18 MVC) gave the Lady Bears (21-9, 12-6) all they could handle for 40 minutes and had the margin within four points with five minutes to play before MSU extended the lead to double digits in the closing minutes.
"I was extremely proud of our effort today," said SIU head coach Missy Tiber. "We just didn't make some shots when we had some chances. Towards the end we gave them some turnovers that led to layups.
"As far as the kids being ready mentally and physically giving all the effort that they could, we did about everything we could to try to win the game."
Southern played some inspired basketball throughout the night, motivated by sending off seniors Eboni Crayton, Nneka Nwani and Katrina Swingler out on a positive note. Despite a sluggish start in which the Salukis fell behind 15-6 four minutes in, SIU gave the Lady Bears fits throughout the rest of the first half.
The Salukis rallied back from the early deficit with a 10-1 run to tie the game at 16-16 with 12:03 to play. The two teams see-sawed back and forth over the next four minutes before SIU sophomore Teri Oliver hit back-to-back 3-pointers to give Southern its biggest lead of the game at 26-22 with 6:51 to play.
The Lady Bears responded with a 7-0 run to take back the lead, eventually extending it to as much as six points before settling on a 36-32 halftime lead.
"The biggest difference in the stats at halftime was the fact they shot 20 free throws and we shot eight," Tiber said. "That's the big difference. If it's not that scenario, we might be winning at the half."
The Salukis continued to stand strong out of halftime, drawing within 36-34 early on and sticking within six points through the early stages of the second half. Southern eventually battled back, posting a 6-0 run to tie the game at 44-44 with 12:04 to play.
The two teams traded baskets over the next few minutes before the Bears finally broke free with a 6-0 run to extend its lead to 60-50 with 3:43 remaining. The Salukis couldn't get any big shots to fall in the closing minutes and the Bears hit free throws down the stretch to keep the lead in double figures.
"We got a lot of wide open shots and we just didn't make them," Tiber said.
Southern had one of its strongest defensive outings of the season, holding the Lady Bears to a 33.9 percent shooting clip and forcing 20 turnovers. The Bears held a 49-40 edge on the boards and went 28-for-38 from the free throw line while Southern went 10-for-16.
Oliver led SIU with 23 points while Swingler scored a season-high 20 points and pulled down seven rebounds in her final game at SIU Arena. CiCi Shannon chipped in six points, 11 rebounds and three blocks.
"Four years of basketball ... it's emotional, especially when it's your last game," Swingler said in regards to her swan song at the Arena. "It was do or die. Now or never."
The Salukis will be the 10th seed in the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Championship next week and will take on seventh-seeded Indiana State in the opening round at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 10.
"I'm looking forward to our first game," Tiber said. "I feel like we should have beat (Indiana State) here. If I see the same team from today, we are going to have a chance to be in the game."
