Southern Illinois University
9-9, 2-5
Wichita State
16-3, 7-0
Shockers keep Salukis at bay, 80-61
01/25/2015 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
By Tyler Wooten
SIUSalukis.com
WICHITA, Kan. -- Despite a hot shooting effort out of the Salukis, the top-ranked Shockers were able to ride an early flurry of scoring to an 80-61 victory over Southern Illinois on Sunday afternoon at Koch Arena.
Southern (9-9, 2-5 MVC) got into an early hole after Wichita State (16-3, 7-0 MVC) started the game on a 10-0 run, an indent of momentum the Salukis weren't ever able to fully overcome. SIU had an exceptionally strong second half thanks to a 54.2 percentage from the field, and were able to cut Wichita's lead to six after a three-pointer from freshman Kylie Giebelhausen at 8:36. However, the difference in the game was a season-high 23 Saluki turnovers that were turned into 32 Shocker points.
"We definitely had our opportunities and I like how we fought," said SIU head coach Cindy Stein. "Things weren't really strong in the first half, a lot of undisciplined play. But, I felt like our kids rebounded from that. I liked the fight in us, but unfortunately we just didn't have enough of it."
It was all Shockers during the first five minutes of the game, as Southern didn't even take a shot until 17:55 and did not make a field goal until Giebelhausen hit a three at 15:29. A stifling WSU defense that changed looks each possession pressed right out of the gate and forced six Saluki turnovers by the first media timeout at 14:59. Wichita State put together another run of 11-0 by the end of the first half to jump out to a 19-point lead at one point, eventually settling for a 43-29 halftime lead on a first-half field goal percentage of 60.6 percent.
"We were just really hesitant, and I think we've got to come out a lot stronger," Stein said of SIU's first half woes. "A lot of things in the beginning of the game, we knew what they were going to do, it was just a matter of our kids getting down in a stance and stopping them. They're going to take it and punch it right down your face."
SIU's halftime adjustments seemed to work early in the second half, coming right out of the break with a 9-2 run that included six unanswered to come within seven. SIU's run can be attributed in part to deploying a 2-3 zone for the first time all season, which immediately caused a handful of Shocker turnovers that the Salukis capitalized on.
However, WSU responded in full with a 7-0 run of their own to inflate their cushion. Southern would get as close as six after Giebelhausen capped off an 8-0 SIU run with a one of her four trifectas to make it 56-50 at 8:36, but Wichita State was not deterred and closed out on a 24-11 run. WSU's Alie Decker immediately stole the momentum back after Giebelhausen's three with a three-ball of her own -- Wichita's first of the game after getting snuffed by the Saluki defense from beyond the arc in the first 32 minutes.
"I was really pleased with our effort today in the second half," Stein said. "I really felt like our kids fought, but we just got to continue to get better, that's what I told them. We face Wichita State again, obviously, and if we want to win a Valley tournament, we're probably going to have to play them again."
The Salukis were uncharacteristically out-worked on the boards, being out-rebounded for only the third time this season and the first time since Dec. 6 (vs. Illinois at home) on a season-low 25 rebounds. Entering Sunday, SIU held the MVC's best rebounding margin at +4.5.
"We're usually a pretty good rebounding team, and unfortunately that really just killed us today," Stein said. "There just weren't enough kids going to the boards not enough kids boxing out, a lot of missed assignments. Our communication was a big factor today because I think if we communicate we make those kinds of decisions better. We were playing behind the whole game."
Southern got two outstanding performances from Dyana Pierre (21 points, seven rebounds, 8-of-10 FG) and Giebelhausen (18 points, three rebounds, three assists, two steals, 7-of-10 FG, 4-of-7 3PT). For Giebelhausen, this is her second-straight game with a career-high scoring output. The Salukis also got solid efforts out of Cartaesha Macklin (eight points, seven assists) and Azia Washington (seven points, five rebounds).
"I really feel like we're just knocking on that door," Stein said. "We've got to get our depth playing a little bit smarter coming in and being ready, and we've got to take care of the ball in certain situations -- which a lot of times that's (Rishonda Napier's) position."
Speaking of Napier, most impressively the Salukis were within striking distance of the Missouri Valley's best team and were able to score 60 points on the nation's best scoring defense (opponents averaged 48.7 points per game against Wichita State entering Sunday) without their starting point guard. Napier missed her third-straight game with a dislocated shoulder suffered against Indiana State on Jan. 16.
"I hope (to have Napier back soon), but at the same time this is making us better," Stein said. "We've got to find a rotation. I think it gives kids opportunities to step up. We'd like to have her back, but she'll get re-evaluated on Wednesday."
With or without Napier, Southern returns home this weekend to host the two of the three worst teams in the Valley this season in Loyola (Jan. 30) and Bradley (Feb. 1).
"They're definitely two teams we can't overlook," Stein said. "Loyola has a couple terrific players that are playing well, and if they ever get their chemistry together they could be deadly. And Bradley is a team I've watched several times on film. I think they play really hard, and if they get those shots to go down they're going to be hard to beat -- that's how they beat Missouri."
