Southern Illinois University
4-21, 1-13MVC
Wichita State
19-8, 13-2MVC
Hot-shooting Shockers down SIU 80-55
02/23/2013 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 23, 2013
By Bill Ford
SIUSalukis.com
WICHITA, Kan.— The Southern Illinois women's basketball team couldn't slow down a hot-shooting Wichita State squad in an 80-55 loss to the Shockers Saturday at Koch Arena.
The Shockers (19-8, 13-2 MVC) shot 55.2 percent from the field and matched a season high in scoring on their senior night as Southern (4-21, 1-13 MVC) dropped it's 12th consecutive game.
"You see what happens when you have a senior-laden team that has been through it," said SIU interim head coach Adrianne Harlow. "They weren't backing down at all."
WSU jumped out to an 11-3 lead in the first five minutes of the game as the Salukis struggled with some early turnovers against the Shocker press. SIU eventually got its offense going, battling back within 16-12 by the 9:42 mark.
Foul troubles hampered the Salukis in the back half of the opening frame, however, as the Shocker offense began to heat up. The Shockers quickly pushed the margin to double figures and ultimately took a 42-23 lead into halftime.
WSU shot 56.7 percent from the field in the first half (17-for-30) while SIU hit just 8 of 25 attempts for 32.0 percent. All 10 Shockers who entered the game scored in the opening period.
The Shockers continued their hot shooting in the first 10 minutes of the second half, extending the lead to 30 points at 66-36 and holding a shooting percentage of 61.4 percent with 10:02 to play.
"They were making some shots they don't usually make," Harlow said. "They don't usually make that many threes. That was atypical."
SIU battled back late in the game with an 11-2 run to pull within 76-53 with 2:48 left, but the Shockers scored a few run-outs late to secure the 25-point win.
Cartaesha Macklin scored 22 points and pulled down eight rebounds while Azia Washington had nine points and Jordyn Courier and Rishonda Napier both had eight points for SIU. Darice Fountain led WSU with 17 points.
The Salukis are back at SIU Arena March 1 and 3 to take on Bradley and Northern Iowa.
