
Photo by: Will Becque
Third quarter surge helps SIU pull away from Loyola, 64-41
02/22/2019 | 10:47:00 | Women's Basketball
Nicole Martin recorded SIU's first 15/15 double-double since 2016 in the win.
CHICAGO — The Southern Illinois University women's basketball team scored the first seven points of the second half and outscored the Loyola Ramblers, 20-5 in the third quarter to surge to a 64-41 road win inside Gentile Arena.
With the win, the Salukis (12-12, 5-8 MVC) complete the season sweep of the Ramblers (12-13, 6-8 MVC) and gives SIU its first Valley road win of the season.
After Southern took a 23-21 lead at the half thanks to a buzzer-beating baseline jumper by Nicole Martin, the Salukis scored the first seven points of the second half to outscore Loyola, 20-to-5 in the stanza. The quarter-long run was punctuated by a buzzer-beating three from Payton McCallister that took any remaining wind out of Loyola's sail.
The Ramblers five third-quarter points were the fewest points allowed in a third quarter by the Salukis since the NCAA switched to quarters prior to the 2015-16 season.
"I liked the fact that in both the second and third quarters we held Loyola to five points," sixth-year head coach Cindy Stein said. "That's 26 points in three quarters- when you do that you can win a lot of games. Defensively we brought a lot of energy, we had a lot of good play throughout the lineup and I think that was the key to the victory."
A stifling Saluki defense hounded Loyola's shooters all night, who were playing without its second-leading scorer in Janae Gonzales. Southern held Loyola to 30.8% (16-of-52) shooting from the floor, including just 14.8% (4-of-27) in the second and third quarters combined. Southern also had six players record at least one steal to finish with 10.
Nicole Martin tallied her sixth double-double of the season with 17 points and a career-best 16 rebounds in 34 minutes of play to lead the Salukis. Martin's 15/15 double-double was the first for a Saluki since Dyana Pierre had 16 points/17 boards against Loyola on Jan. 10, 2016.
Martin was a big reason that Southern won the battle on the glass, 48-to-29. Southern's +19 rebounding margin tied a season-best.
"She was a beast," Stein said of Martin's play Friday night. "She does such an amazing job in there and is getting better and better. She got kind of flustered in the second quarter but came back strong, really got in there and took advantage of her athleticism."
SIU got contributions throughout its lineup. Caitlin Link, making her fourth career start, had eight first-half points to tie her career-high. Makenzie Silvey reached double figures for the fourth-straight game after she scored all 12 of her points in the second half. Brittney Patrick added three points, eight assists, seven boards and two blocks while Abby Brockmeyer chipped in eight points and seven rebounds.
The Salukis also hit 10 three-pointers and had seven different players knock down treys in the win. Link (2), Silvey (2), Kristen Nelson (2), Payton McCallister (1), Brockmeyer (1), Patrick (1) and Celina VanHyfte (1) all connected from downtown in the win.
Link gave Southern its first lead after she picked Loyola's pocket and went coast-to-coast for a layup to put SIU ahead, 19-18. Martin gave SIU its largest lead of the first half with a turnaround jumper on Southern's next possession and Patrick found her once again to give Southern a 23-21 lead at the halftime buzzer.
The Salukis doubled up the Ramblers in the second half, as they outscored Loyola, 41-to-20 to seal the win.
SIU returns to action on Sunday, Feb. 24 when it takes on the Valparaiso Crusaders. Tip-off from ARC Arena is set for 1 p.m.
With the win, the Salukis (12-12, 5-8 MVC) complete the season sweep of the Ramblers (12-13, 6-8 MVC) and gives SIU its first Valley road win of the season.
After Southern took a 23-21 lead at the half thanks to a buzzer-beating baseline jumper by Nicole Martin, the Salukis scored the first seven points of the second half to outscore Loyola, 20-to-5 in the stanza. The quarter-long run was punctuated by a buzzer-beating three from Payton McCallister that took any remaining wind out of Loyola's sail.
The Ramblers five third-quarter points were the fewest points allowed in a third quarter by the Salukis since the NCAA switched to quarters prior to the 2015-16 season.
"I liked the fact that in both the second and third quarters we held Loyola to five points," sixth-year head coach Cindy Stein said. "That's 26 points in three quarters- when you do that you can win a lot of games. Defensively we brought a lot of energy, we had a lot of good play throughout the lineup and I think that was the key to the victory."
A stifling Saluki defense hounded Loyola's shooters all night, who were playing without its second-leading scorer in Janae Gonzales. Southern held Loyola to 30.8% (16-of-52) shooting from the floor, including just 14.8% (4-of-27) in the second and third quarters combined. Southern also had six players record at least one steal to finish with 10.
Nicole Martin tallied her sixth double-double of the season with 17 points and a career-best 16 rebounds in 34 minutes of play to lead the Salukis. Martin's 15/15 double-double was the first for a Saluki since Dyana Pierre had 16 points/17 boards against Loyola on Jan. 10, 2016.
Martin was a big reason that Southern won the battle on the glass, 48-to-29. Southern's +19 rebounding margin tied a season-best.
"She was a beast," Stein said of Martin's play Friday night. "She does such an amazing job in there and is getting better and better. She got kind of flustered in the second quarter but came back strong, really got in there and took advantage of her athleticism."
SIU got contributions throughout its lineup. Caitlin Link, making her fourth career start, had eight first-half points to tie her career-high. Makenzie Silvey reached double figures for the fourth-straight game after she scored all 12 of her points in the second half. Brittney Patrick added three points, eight assists, seven boards and two blocks while Abby Brockmeyer chipped in eight points and seven rebounds.
The Salukis also hit 10 three-pointers and had seven different players knock down treys in the win. Link (2), Silvey (2), Kristen Nelson (2), Payton McCallister (1), Brockmeyer (1), Patrick (1) and Celina VanHyfte (1) all connected from downtown in the win.
Link gave Southern its first lead after she picked Loyola's pocket and went coast-to-coast for a layup to put SIU ahead, 19-18. Martin gave SIU its largest lead of the first half with a turnaround jumper on Southern's next possession and Patrick found her once again to give Southern a 23-21 lead at the halftime buzzer.
The Salukis doubled up the Ramblers in the second half, as they outscored Loyola, 41-to-20 to seal the win.
SIU returns to action on Sunday, Feb. 24 when it takes on the Valparaiso Crusaders. Tip-off from ARC Arena is set for 1 p.m.
Team Stats
SIU
LUC
FG%
.417
.308
3FG%
.455
.267
FT%
.571
.385
RB
48
29
TO
18
14
STL
10
7
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