Tuesday, November 20
Bowling Green, KY
11 a.m.
Southern Illinois University
2-2
76
at
83
Western Kentucky University
1-4
1
2
3
4
F
Southern Illinois
21
12
24
19
76
WKU
28
24
16
15
83
Comeback falls short for Women’s Basketball at Western Kentucky
11/20/2018 | 3:51:00 | Women's Basketball
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — The Southern Illinois University women's basketball team couldn't erase a 19-point deficit despite a late comeback attempt at Western Kentucky Tuesday afternoon, falling to the Lady Toppers, 83-76 in front of 4,792 screaming fans inside Dibble Arena.
Early foul trouble came back to haunt the Salukis (2-2) in the second quarter. Southern was whistled for seven first quarter fouls, including two by Nicole Martin and Abby Brockmeyer.
With Southern's starting post players playing just three minutes combined in the second quarter, Western Kentucky outscored the visitors, 24-to-12 to a take a 52-33 lead into the break.
"We played the second half defensively how we were suppose to start the game," sixth-year head coach Cindy Stein said. "It was a very frustrating first half because we didn't execute anything that we wanted to. We were not ready. We talked about being very discipline in our shooting and our ball control and we didn't have any of that. And obviously we got in foul trouble quick because we were playing poor defensively and that got us in a hole."
The second half was a completely different story for the Salukis. Southern's defense came away with five second half steals and held the defending Conference USA champs to 10-of-26 (38%) from the field while Martin sparked the offense.
The Jefferson City, Mo. native scored 13 of her team-high 17 points in the final 20 minutes of play to help SIU get to within three, 79-76 with 1:45 remaining in regulation. That was, however, as close as the Dawgs could get. The Lady Toppers scored the final four points of the game to seal the win.
"This game will make us better," Stein said. "When you can play in this kind of atmosphere and you have to deal with nerves, pressure and all of those things wrapped together it is only going to make us better."
The Salukis were led by Martin, who tallied her third career double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. The Preseason All-MVC selection was an efficient 8-of-12 from the field and set a career-best with seven offensive rebounds. Martin was one of four Salukis to score in double figures.
Payton McCallister tallied a career-high 15 points while Makenzie Silvey finished with 11 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals. Brittney Patrick added 10 points, seven assists and four rebounds.
The Salukis were able to claw back into the contest thanks in part to a significant advantage on the glass. Southern out-rebounded Western Kentucky, 47-to-32, including 25-to-13 in the second half. SIU's 26 offensive rebounds Tuesday were its most since Jan. 26, 2014 vs. Evansville.
"I felt like our rebounding was pretty strong," Stein said. "We didn't get a couple of key rebounds when we needed to at the end of the game."
The Salukis will look to get back to their winning ways at the South Point Shootout in Las Vegas, Nev. Southern takes on Hartford on Friday, Nov. 23 before tangling with No. 19 Arizona State on Saturday, Nov. 24.
Early foul trouble came back to haunt the Salukis (2-2) in the second quarter. Southern was whistled for seven first quarter fouls, including two by Nicole Martin and Abby Brockmeyer.
With Southern's starting post players playing just three minutes combined in the second quarter, Western Kentucky outscored the visitors, 24-to-12 to a take a 52-33 lead into the break.
"We played the second half defensively how we were suppose to start the game," sixth-year head coach Cindy Stein said. "It was a very frustrating first half because we didn't execute anything that we wanted to. We were not ready. We talked about being very discipline in our shooting and our ball control and we didn't have any of that. And obviously we got in foul trouble quick because we were playing poor defensively and that got us in a hole."
The second half was a completely different story for the Salukis. Southern's defense came away with five second half steals and held the defending Conference USA champs to 10-of-26 (38%) from the field while Martin sparked the offense.
The Jefferson City, Mo. native scored 13 of her team-high 17 points in the final 20 minutes of play to help SIU get to within three, 79-76 with 1:45 remaining in regulation. That was, however, as close as the Dawgs could get. The Lady Toppers scored the final four points of the game to seal the win.
"This game will make us better," Stein said. "When you can play in this kind of atmosphere and you have to deal with nerves, pressure and all of those things wrapped together it is only going to make us better."
The Salukis were led by Martin, who tallied her third career double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. The Preseason All-MVC selection was an efficient 8-of-12 from the field and set a career-best with seven offensive rebounds. Martin was one of four Salukis to score in double figures.
Payton McCallister tallied a career-high 15 points while Makenzie Silvey finished with 11 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals. Brittney Patrick added 10 points, seven assists and four rebounds.
The Salukis were able to claw back into the contest thanks in part to a significant advantage on the glass. Southern out-rebounded Western Kentucky, 47-to-32, including 25-to-13 in the second half. SIU's 26 offensive rebounds Tuesday were its most since Jan. 26, 2014 vs. Evansville.
"I felt like our rebounding was pretty strong," Stein said. "We didn't get a couple of key rebounds when we needed to at the end of the game."
The Salukis will look to get back to their winning ways at the South Point Shootout in Las Vegas, Nev. Southern takes on Hartford on Friday, Nov. 23 before tangling with No. 19 Arizona State on Saturday, Nov. 24.
Team Stats
SIU
WKU
FG%
.364
.500
3FG%
.300
.714
FT%
.737
.742
RB
47
32
TO
18
18
STL
8
8
Game Leaders
Pts
17
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
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