Friday, December 29
Evansville, IN
7 PM
Southern Illinois University
6-6, 1-0MVC
74
at
62
University of Evansville
3-9, 0-1MVC
1
2
3
4
F
Southern Illinois
13
20
17
24
74
Evansville
11
12
24
15
62
Photo by: Will Becque
Women’s Basketball opens Valley play with 74-62 win over Evansville
12/29/2017 | 10:30:00 | Women's Basketball
Abby Brockmeyer set career-highs in points, rebounds and steals in the win over the Purple Aces
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — Freshman Abby Brockmeyer recorded career-bests in points, rebounds and steals to help lead the Southern Illinois women's basketball team to a 74-62 win over the Evansville Purple Aces in the Missouri Valley Conference opener for both teams.
The Salukis (6-6, 1-0 MVC), built a 13-point lead in the first half and closed the contest on a 14-2 run, punctuated by a pair of three-pointers by Kristen Nelson that all but sealed the win for Southern. It marks the fifth-straight season in which the Salukis have won their conference opener under head coach Cindy Stein.
"I can't say enough about how hard this team works," said Stein. "I don't think we've played as well as we can, but I'm really excited about how hard we play. We play hard, stick together and we pick each other up when we are down. It's a fun group to coach."
SIU turned the ball over a season-low nine times and forced Evansville to turn the ball over 21 times, which is tied for the most turnovers SIU has forced this season.
"We definitely took good care of the basketball," Stein said. "Like I tell our team, I'd rather have a missed shot then a turnover so if all else fails, shoot. I think our guards did a great job."
The Purple Aces (3-9, 0-1 MVC) got back into the game during a third quarter in which they knocked down 8-of-14 attempts (57.1%) in the third quarter to cut SIU's lead down to three.
"Our defense fell a little bit," said Brockmeyer of the third quarter. "We gave up the drive and weren't helping as well as we did in the first half."
After Evansville tied the game, 60-60 with 3:08 remaining in regulation, Southern closed with a 14-2 run, highlighted by eight points from Nelson.
Brockmeyer finished with 27 points and 14 rebounds for her third career double-double, including 11 points in the fourth quarter to help Southern seal the win. The Raymond, Ill. native was 11-for-14 from the field, tallied a career-high three steals and was one of three Salukis to score in double figures.
"Abby has a savvy to her," fifth-year head coach Cindy Stein said. "Defensively she sneaks up on people. She had to defend a guard today and that shows her versatility. While I think 27 points and 14 rebounds is outstanding, its the fact that she had to guard a really tough player that got on a roll and she had to step up and get some stops."
Brockmeyer was joined by Kristen Nelson and Kylie Giebelhausen. Nelson tallied 13 points and no turnovers while Kylie Giebelhausen had 10 points and tied a career-best with seven assists. Giebelhausen and Rachel Pudlowski were instrumental in SIU holding Evansville's leading scorer, Hannah Noe, who came into Friday's game averaging 17 points a contest, to just one field goal and four points.
Southern Illinois returns to action Sunday, Dec. 31 at Indiana State. The Salukis tip-off against the Sycamores at 2 p.m. (EST)
The Salukis (6-6, 1-0 MVC), built a 13-point lead in the first half and closed the contest on a 14-2 run, punctuated by a pair of three-pointers by Kristen Nelson that all but sealed the win for Southern. It marks the fifth-straight season in which the Salukis have won their conference opener under head coach Cindy Stein.
"I can't say enough about how hard this team works," said Stein. "I don't think we've played as well as we can, but I'm really excited about how hard we play. We play hard, stick together and we pick each other up when we are down. It's a fun group to coach."
SIU turned the ball over a season-low nine times and forced Evansville to turn the ball over 21 times, which is tied for the most turnovers SIU has forced this season.
"We definitely took good care of the basketball," Stein said. "Like I tell our team, I'd rather have a missed shot then a turnover so if all else fails, shoot. I think our guards did a great job."
The Purple Aces (3-9, 0-1 MVC) got back into the game during a third quarter in which they knocked down 8-of-14 attempts (57.1%) in the third quarter to cut SIU's lead down to three.
"Our defense fell a little bit," said Brockmeyer of the third quarter. "We gave up the drive and weren't helping as well as we did in the first half."
After Evansville tied the game, 60-60 with 3:08 remaining in regulation, Southern closed with a 14-2 run, highlighted by eight points from Nelson.
Brockmeyer finished with 27 points and 14 rebounds for her third career double-double, including 11 points in the fourth quarter to help Southern seal the win. The Raymond, Ill. native was 11-for-14 from the field, tallied a career-high three steals and was one of three Salukis to score in double figures.
"Abby has a savvy to her," fifth-year head coach Cindy Stein said. "Defensively she sneaks up on people. She had to defend a guard today and that shows her versatility. While I think 27 points and 14 rebounds is outstanding, its the fact that she had to guard a really tough player that got on a roll and she had to step up and get some stops."
Brockmeyer was joined by Kristen Nelson and Kylie Giebelhausen. Nelson tallied 13 points and no turnovers while Kylie Giebelhausen had 10 points and tied a career-best with seven assists. Giebelhausen and Rachel Pudlowski were instrumental in SIU holding Evansville's leading scorer, Hannah Noe, who came into Friday's game averaging 17 points a contest, to just one field goal and four points.
Southern Illinois returns to action Sunday, Dec. 31 at Indiana State. The Salukis tip-off against the Sycamores at 2 p.m. (EST)
Team Stats
SIU
UE
FG%
.380
.404
3FG%
.286
.333
FT%
.545
.875
RB
39
41
TO
9
21
STL
9
5
Game Leaders
Pts
27
FGM
11
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball11.21.25 | Saluki Radio Basketball Podcast - Jacksonville Classic
Friday, November 21
11.21.25 | Saluki Radio Preview - at #11 Illinois State
Friday, November 21
11.19.25 | Saluki Radio Football Podcast - #11 Illinois State
Wednesday, November 19
10.18.25 | Saluki Radio Postgame at NDSU - Davion Sykes
Tuesday, November 18