Southern Illinois University
2-2,0-0MVC
University of Memphis
2-3,0-0AAC
Salukis comeback falls short against Tigers
11/20/2019 | 3:50:00 | Women's Basketball
CARBONDALE, Ill. — The Southern Illinois University women's basketball team couldn't erase a 21-point halftime deficit despite a late comeback Wednesday afternoon against the Memphis Tigers, as the Tigers hung on for a 70-66 win in front of a school record 3,397 screaming fans inside Banterra Center.
The Salukis (2-2), started hot, as they scored the game's first five points and led 10-4 after four minutes. But a 15-0 run from the 5:21 mark in the first quarter until mid-way through the second stanza swung momentum in the Tigers favor. To make matters worse, Southern shot just 30% (3-of-10) from the field in the second quarter and was out-scored 21-to-6.
"Obviously not what we wanted," seventh-year head coach Cindy Stein said. "I will say this- it was a great atmosphere and a great crowd. I appreciate the schools and the kids that got involved. That was fun. The game wasn't so much fun. We dug ourselves a first half hole."
The second half was a completely different story. SIU tightened down defensively in the second half, as it held Memphis to 32.1% (9-of-28) from the field and shot 48.6% (18-of-37) from the floor. The Salukis got to within three on two occasions with under a minute to play, including at 68-65 with .32 seconds remaining, but that was as close as they could get.
"I loved how hard we played in the second half to comeback," Stein said. "We did a lot of really good things in the second half."
Makenzie Silvey and Abby Brockmeyer were the catalysts of the second half comeback. Silvey scored 26 of her game-high 28 points in the second half, which included 17 points in the fourth quarter. She finished with 28 points on 11-of-21 shooting to go along with five rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Brockmeyer, meanwhile, notched her 15th career double-double with 17 points, 10 rebounds, three steals, two assists and a block.
"Makenzie and Abby were brilliant today," Stein said. "They played their butts off and did a fantastic job. They were hot and our kids did a good job of finding them. The two of them made a lot of good things happen."
Lauren Hartman added five points and two boards in six minutes off the bench while Brittney Patrick tallied four points, five assists and three rebounds.
The 3,397 fans, aided by 21 local schools in attendance for SIU's annual Field Trip Game, were the most at a Saluki women's basketball game in school history. It bested the previous record of 3,367, set on Nov. 12, 2006 against Missouri.
The Salukis will look to get back to their winning ways at Eastern Michigan on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 11 a.m. (CT)
