Sunday, January 21
Carbondale, IL
11:30 AM
Southern Illinois University
11-8, 6-2MVC
74
vs
63
Valparaiso University
9-9, 2-5MVC
1
2
3
4
F
Valparaiso
18
11
21
13
63
Southern Illinois
18
17
19
20
74
Photo by: Madison Case
Women's Basketball holds on for 74-63 win over Valpo
01/21/2018 | 3:48:00 | Women's Basketball
CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Southern Illinois women's basketball team held on to defeat the Valparaiso Crusaders, 74-63, behind freshman Makenzie Silvey's career-high 19 points Sunday afternoon inside SIU Arena.
After Valparaiso (9-9, 2-5 MVC) cut Southern's lead down to four, 61-57 with 5:41 to go, the Salukis turned to their defense to get the necessary stops to seal the win. SIU's defense held Valpo to 1-of-7 shooting over the final 5:41 and made 9-of-12 free throws in the fourth quarter to improve to 11-8 overall and 6-2 in the Missouri Valley Conference.
"I felt like our defense really stepped up in those closing minutes," fifth-year head coach Cindy Stein said. "I thought our shot selection also got better and we got the offensive boards we needed. Nicole was a big part of that. Makenzie- I just called her 'Big Shot Silvey'- she always tends to hit that big shot. The free throws down the stretch too, if we missed them, its a different ballgame. We did all the right things to put the game away finally."
The Salukis used a balanced scoring attack as three players reached double figures. Silvey led the charge, as she set career-highs in points (19), rebounds (6) and three-pointers made (5) in the win.
"My teammates were doing a great job of setting the screens that we have in our plays just to get me open," Silvey said. "I was able to knock some shots down which got us going to start the game."
Nicole Martin collected 18 points, eight rebounds and two steals and was 12-of-13 from the free throw line, including 6-for-6 from the charity stripe in the fourth quarter.
"I've been struggling lately in the post just trying to calm down and do a simple post move," Martin said. "But down the stretch today it got smoother and I calmed myself down."
It marked the 13th time this season that Martin has reached double figures. Kristen Nelson was the third Saluki in double figures as she added 10 points and two steals.
The Salukis shot a solid 81.5 percent (22-of-27) from the free throw line, including 9-of-12 in the fourth. Southern's 22 made free throws were its most since also making 22 in an 87-72 win over SEMO on Dec. 22, 2015. On the defensive end, SIU swatted five shots and snagged 11 steals, while forcing 18 turnovers.
The two sides traded blows during a back and forth first quarter. Valpo took its largest lead, 16-12, before four of Rachel Pudlowski's six points tied the contest, 16-16.
The Salukis broke a 24-24 tie with a 7-0 run to build a six point advantage, 35-29 at the half.
Southern opened the third quarter with a 14-2 run to take its largest lead, 49-31 with 6:14 remaining in the third. The Crusaders did not go gently into that good night, as they outscored the Salukis, 19-5 to cut SIU's lead to four, 54-50 at the end of three.
Foul trouble reared its ugly head in the fourth quarter, as both Abby Brockmeyer and Martin were sent to the bench with their fourth fouls and Southern clinging to a two point lead, 56-54. Lauren Hartman, who entered the game for the first time with 8:33 remaining in regulation, found Nelson open underneath the basket to put the Salukis ahead by four.
After the Crusaders split a pair of free throws, Silvey drained her fifth three-pointer to put Southern ahead by six with 6:48 remaining. Valpo got to within three but that was as close as they could get as SIU's defense clamped down to secure the victory.
The Salukis return to the SIU Arena on Friday, Jan. 26 when they host the Missouri State Lady Bears. Tip-off against the Lady Bears is set for 6 p.m.
After Valparaiso (9-9, 2-5 MVC) cut Southern's lead down to four, 61-57 with 5:41 to go, the Salukis turned to their defense to get the necessary stops to seal the win. SIU's defense held Valpo to 1-of-7 shooting over the final 5:41 and made 9-of-12 free throws in the fourth quarter to improve to 11-8 overall and 6-2 in the Missouri Valley Conference.
"I felt like our defense really stepped up in those closing minutes," fifth-year head coach Cindy Stein said. "I thought our shot selection also got better and we got the offensive boards we needed. Nicole was a big part of that. Makenzie- I just called her 'Big Shot Silvey'- she always tends to hit that big shot. The free throws down the stretch too, if we missed them, its a different ballgame. We did all the right things to put the game away finally."
The Salukis used a balanced scoring attack as three players reached double figures. Silvey led the charge, as she set career-highs in points (19), rebounds (6) and three-pointers made (5) in the win.
"My teammates were doing a great job of setting the screens that we have in our plays just to get me open," Silvey said. "I was able to knock some shots down which got us going to start the game."
Nicole Martin collected 18 points, eight rebounds and two steals and was 12-of-13 from the free throw line, including 6-for-6 from the charity stripe in the fourth quarter.
"I've been struggling lately in the post just trying to calm down and do a simple post move," Martin said. "But down the stretch today it got smoother and I calmed myself down."
It marked the 13th time this season that Martin has reached double figures. Kristen Nelson was the third Saluki in double figures as she added 10 points and two steals.
The Salukis shot a solid 81.5 percent (22-of-27) from the free throw line, including 9-of-12 in the fourth. Southern's 22 made free throws were its most since also making 22 in an 87-72 win over SEMO on Dec. 22, 2015. On the defensive end, SIU swatted five shots and snagged 11 steals, while forcing 18 turnovers.
The two sides traded blows during a back and forth first quarter. Valpo took its largest lead, 16-12, before four of Rachel Pudlowski's six points tied the contest, 16-16.
The Salukis broke a 24-24 tie with a 7-0 run to build a six point advantage, 35-29 at the half.
Southern opened the third quarter with a 14-2 run to take its largest lead, 49-31 with 6:14 remaining in the third. The Crusaders did not go gently into that good night, as they outscored the Salukis, 19-5 to cut SIU's lead to four, 54-50 at the end of three.
Foul trouble reared its ugly head in the fourth quarter, as both Abby Brockmeyer and Martin were sent to the bench with their fourth fouls and Southern clinging to a two point lead, 56-54. Lauren Hartman, who entered the game for the first time with 8:33 remaining in regulation, found Nelson open underneath the basket to put the Salukis ahead by four.
After the Crusaders split a pair of free throws, Silvey drained her fifth three-pointer to put Southern ahead by six with 6:48 remaining. Valpo got to within three but that was as close as they could get as SIU's defense clamped down to secure the victory.
The Salukis return to the SIU Arena on Friday, Jan. 26 when they host the Missouri State Lady Bears. Tip-off against the Lady Bears is set for 6 p.m.
Team Stats
VALPO
SIU
FG%
.400
.367
3FG%
.421
.320
FT%
.500
.815
RB
37
41
TO
18
14
STL
7
11
Game Leaders
Pts
19
FGM
6
3FGM
5
FTM
2
Pts
18
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
12
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
F/C
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballG
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