Saturday, December 8
Carbondale, Ill.
3:30 p.m.
Southern Illinois University
5-4
73
vs
59
Eastern Illinois University
4-4
1
2
3
4
F
Eastern Illinois
10
16
10
23
59
Southern Illinois
21
10
25
17
73
Photo by: Will Becque
Salukis win inaugural Compass Challenge Championship
12/08/2018 | 8:01:00 | Women's Basketball
Makenzie Silvey earned Tournament MVP honors, while Kristen Nelson and Abby Brockmeyer earned spots on the All-Tourney team.
CARBONDALE, Ill. — The Southern Illinois University women's basketball team won the inaugural Compass Challenge championship with a 73-59 win over Eastern Illinois Saturday inside SIU Arena.
With the Salukis (5-4) clinging to a five-point lead, 31-26 at the half, Southern outscored Eastern, 25-10 in the third quarter and cruised from there. After Eastern's 56-52 win over Western Illinois and SIU's 82-73 win over Northern on Friday night, Saturday's game was the de facto tournament championship game.
The Salukis never trailed in the contest. Southern opened the game on an 11-2 run and led by double-digits after the first quarter. Eastern chipped away in the second stanza, getting to within five at the buzzer on a 3-ball from Karlee Pace. That was as close as the Panthers could get though, as back-to-back three-pointers by Kristen Nelson to start the second half built SIU's lead back to double-digits.
"We definitely had the potential (to win both games) coming into this weekend," sixth-year head coach Cindy Stein. "We knew it was going to be tough because we were playing two very well-coached teams who were going to try to throw different wrinkles at us. It feels good to be able to absorb that, fight off the challenges and come out with the wins."
SIU's defense was a big reason that it was able to build such a large cushion in the second half. The Salukis utilized a half court trap to force eight second-half turnovers and tied a season-high with 11 steals, of which four came during the third stanza.
"I love the fact that we turned the game around with our defense because that's something we've been emphasizing so much," Stein said. "When we can do that, it gives our kids more confidence to play hard and reaffirms what we have been teaching them. I'm very proud that we were able to do that."
Nicole Martin led the Salukis with a game-high 16 points on an efficient 7-of-8 shooting to go along with six boards. The junior forward was a significant reason that SIU held a 14-point advantage (38-24) in points in the paint as many of Martin's seven baskets came within mere feet of the bucket.
"Yesterday, the (Huskies) did a fantastic job of doubling and I didn't see the other help," Martin said. "Today the passes were open and I was happy to make them."
Makenzie Silvey scored 15 points and tied a career-high with seven rebounds. The Glen Carbon, Ill. native took home Tournament MVP honors after she averaged 19.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game in SIU's two wins.
Also joining Silvey on the All-Tournament Team were Kristen Nelson and Abby Brockmeyer.
Nelson scored in double figures for the third-straight game with 13 points and she tied her career-best with four steals. The junior guard, who made her first two starts of the season during the Compass Challenge, averaged 15.5 points on 57.9% (11-of-19) shooting, including 57.1% (8-of-14) from three-point range.
Brockmeyer finished with five points and five rebounds against the Panthers and averaged 15.5 points and eight rebounds in SIU's back-to-back wins.
Southern's bench also played a prominent role in the win over the Panthers. All 12 Salukis that dressed played and Celina VanHyfte led the reserves with a season-high 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting. It marked the fifth time in her career that VanHyfte has reached double figures.
The Salukis are back in action on Tuesday, Dec. 18 when they travel to Murray, Ky. to take on the Murray State Racers. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m.
Compass Challenge All-Tournament Team
Makenzie Silvey - MVP
Mikayla Voigt - NIU
Gabby Nikitingite - NIU
Karle Pace - EIU
Kristen Nelson
Abby Brockmeyer
Danni Nichols - WIU
With the Salukis (5-4) clinging to a five-point lead, 31-26 at the half, Southern outscored Eastern, 25-10 in the third quarter and cruised from there. After Eastern's 56-52 win over Western Illinois and SIU's 82-73 win over Northern on Friday night, Saturday's game was the de facto tournament championship game.
The Salukis never trailed in the contest. Southern opened the game on an 11-2 run and led by double-digits after the first quarter. Eastern chipped away in the second stanza, getting to within five at the buzzer on a 3-ball from Karlee Pace. That was as close as the Panthers could get though, as back-to-back three-pointers by Kristen Nelson to start the second half built SIU's lead back to double-digits.
"We definitely had the potential (to win both games) coming into this weekend," sixth-year head coach Cindy Stein. "We knew it was going to be tough because we were playing two very well-coached teams who were going to try to throw different wrinkles at us. It feels good to be able to absorb that, fight off the challenges and come out with the wins."
SIU's defense was a big reason that it was able to build such a large cushion in the second half. The Salukis utilized a half court trap to force eight second-half turnovers and tied a season-high with 11 steals, of which four came during the third stanza.
"I love the fact that we turned the game around with our defense because that's something we've been emphasizing so much," Stein said. "When we can do that, it gives our kids more confidence to play hard and reaffirms what we have been teaching them. I'm very proud that we were able to do that."
Nicole Martin led the Salukis with a game-high 16 points on an efficient 7-of-8 shooting to go along with six boards. The junior forward was a significant reason that SIU held a 14-point advantage (38-24) in points in the paint as many of Martin's seven baskets came within mere feet of the bucket.
"Yesterday, the (Huskies) did a fantastic job of doubling and I didn't see the other help," Martin said. "Today the passes were open and I was happy to make them."
Makenzie Silvey scored 15 points and tied a career-high with seven rebounds. The Glen Carbon, Ill. native took home Tournament MVP honors after she averaged 19.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game in SIU's two wins.
Also joining Silvey on the All-Tournament Team were Kristen Nelson and Abby Brockmeyer.
Nelson scored in double figures for the third-straight game with 13 points and she tied her career-best with four steals. The junior guard, who made her first two starts of the season during the Compass Challenge, averaged 15.5 points on 57.9% (11-of-19) shooting, including 57.1% (8-of-14) from three-point range.
Brockmeyer finished with five points and five rebounds against the Panthers and averaged 15.5 points and eight rebounds in SIU's back-to-back wins.
Southern's bench also played a prominent role in the win over the Panthers. All 12 Salukis that dressed played and Celina VanHyfte led the reserves with a season-high 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting. It marked the fifth time in her career that VanHyfte has reached double figures.
The Salukis are back in action on Tuesday, Dec. 18 when they travel to Murray, Ky. to take on the Murray State Racers. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m.
Compass Challenge All-Tournament Team
Makenzie Silvey - MVP
Mikayla Voigt - NIU
Gabby Nikitingite - NIU
Karle Pace - EIU
Kristen Nelson
Abby Brockmeyer
Danni Nichols - WIU
Team Stats
EIU
SIU
FG%
.488
.474
3FG%
.500
.250
FT%
.650
.765
RB
24
33
TO
20
18
STL
10
11
Game Leaders
Pts
16
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF/C
/ Women's Basketball12.6.25 | Alayna Kraus Postgame Presser vs. SEMO
Sunday, December 07
12.6.25 | Tkiyah "Tete" Nelson Postgame Presser vs. SEMO
Sunday, December 07
12.6.25 | Coach Bond-White Postgame Presser vs. SEMO
Sunday, December 07
12.5.25 | Saluki Radio Football Podcast - 2025 Season Recap
Saturday, December 06