Tuesday, December 19
San Juan, Puerto Rico
12 PM (CT)
Southern Illinois University
5-5
57
vs
68
University at Albany
9-2
1
2
3
4
F
UALBANYW
20
17
15
16
68
SIU
18
10
14
15
57
Photo by: Will Becque
Women’s Basketball drops Puerto Rico Classic opener to Albany
12/19/2017 | 4:52:00 | Women's Basketball
Nicole Martin finished with a career-high 20 points in the loss to the Great Danes
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The Southern Illinois women's basketball team dropped a 68-57 decision to the University at Albany Tuesday afternoon in it's opening game of the Puerto Rico Classic.
The Salukis trailed by just two at the end of the first quarter but Albany used a 10-3 run to build a nine-point advantage at the end of the first half. The Salukis cut the deficit to five, 52-47, on a pair of free throws by Nicole Martin with 6:40 remaining in regulation but that was as close as they could get.
The Salukis (5-5) had a difficult time acclimating to the conditions within Coliseo Ruben Mayas Montanez, as the lack of multiple air conditioning units made for a warm environment. Southern turned the ball over 21 times and shot 36.7% (18-of-49) from the floor, including 20% (3-of-15) from three-point range. The Great Danes, who have made six-straight NCAA Tournament appearances, pulled away in the final 20 minutes of regulation behind 16 second half points from Jessica Fequiere.
Southern was led in scoring by Nicole Martin, who finished with a career-high 20 points to go along with four rebounds, a block and a steal. 10 of Martin's 20 points came at the foul line, as the Missouri Valley Conference leader in free throw attempts went 10-for-13 at the charity stripe. Her 10 makes were a career-best while her 13 attempts tied her previous best, set earlier this season at SEMO.
Kylie Giebelhausen finished with nine points and six rebounds while Makenzie Silvey had seven points and Rachel Pudlowski chipped in six points in 11 minutes off the bench.
The first quarter was a back and forth affair. The Salukis trailed by six, 15-9, but an 8-2 SIU run highlighted by a 3-ball by Pudlowski and a fast break layup by Abby Brockmeyer tied the contest, 17-17. The Great Danes closed the quarter on a 3-1 spurt to take a two-point lead.
The Salukis kicked up their defensive intensity in the second quarter and held the Great Danes to just 23.1% (3-of-13) from the floor in the period. Martin scored five-straight points to open the quarter and SIU got to within one on two separate occasions before Albany closed the period on a 10-3 run to take a nine-point lead at the break.
The Great Danes opened up a double-digit lead early in the third quarter and led by 10 at the end of the frame. The Salukis cut the deficit to six, 57-51, on a pair of Martin free throws with 3:57 to play, but Albany outscored SIU, 11-6 over the final 3:57 to seal the win.
Albany's Jessica Fequiere finished with a game-high 25 points and was one of two Great Danes to score in double figures.
The Salukis conclude play at the Puerto Rico Classic on Wednesday, Dec. 20 against the University of Miami Hurricanes. SIU was originally slated to take on Kennesaw State, but the Owls were unable to make the trip due to the power outage at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport. It marks just the second all-time meeting between the Salukis and the Hurricanes, and it is the first time since 1997 that SIU has faced an opponent from the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The Salukis trailed by just two at the end of the first quarter but Albany used a 10-3 run to build a nine-point advantage at the end of the first half. The Salukis cut the deficit to five, 52-47, on a pair of free throws by Nicole Martin with 6:40 remaining in regulation but that was as close as they could get.
The Salukis (5-5) had a difficult time acclimating to the conditions within Coliseo Ruben Mayas Montanez, as the lack of multiple air conditioning units made for a warm environment. Southern turned the ball over 21 times and shot 36.7% (18-of-49) from the floor, including 20% (3-of-15) from three-point range. The Great Danes, who have made six-straight NCAA Tournament appearances, pulled away in the final 20 minutes of regulation behind 16 second half points from Jessica Fequiere.
Southern was led in scoring by Nicole Martin, who finished with a career-high 20 points to go along with four rebounds, a block and a steal. 10 of Martin's 20 points came at the foul line, as the Missouri Valley Conference leader in free throw attempts went 10-for-13 at the charity stripe. Her 10 makes were a career-best while her 13 attempts tied her previous best, set earlier this season at SEMO.
Kylie Giebelhausen finished with nine points and six rebounds while Makenzie Silvey had seven points and Rachel Pudlowski chipped in six points in 11 minutes off the bench.
The first quarter was a back and forth affair. The Salukis trailed by six, 15-9, but an 8-2 SIU run highlighted by a 3-ball by Pudlowski and a fast break layup by Abby Brockmeyer tied the contest, 17-17. The Great Danes closed the quarter on a 3-1 spurt to take a two-point lead.
The Salukis kicked up their defensive intensity in the second quarter and held the Great Danes to just 23.1% (3-of-13) from the floor in the period. Martin scored five-straight points to open the quarter and SIU got to within one on two separate occasions before Albany closed the period on a 10-3 run to take a nine-point lead at the break.
The Great Danes opened up a double-digit lead early in the third quarter and led by 10 at the end of the frame. The Salukis cut the deficit to six, 57-51, on a pair of Martin free throws with 3:57 to play, but Albany outscored SIU, 11-6 over the final 3:57 to seal the win.
Albany's Jessica Fequiere finished with a game-high 25 points and was one of two Great Danes to score in double figures.
The Salukis conclude play at the Puerto Rico Classic on Wednesday, Dec. 20 against the University of Miami Hurricanes. SIU was originally slated to take on Kennesaw State, but the Owls were unable to make the trip due to the power outage at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport. It marks just the second all-time meeting between the Salukis and the Hurricanes, and it is the first time since 1997 that SIU has faced an opponent from the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Team Stats
UALBANYW
SIU
FG%
.423
.367
3FG%
.313
.200
FT%
.679
.667
RB
31
31
TO
16
21
STL
7
6
Game Leaders
Pts
20
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
10
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
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