Southern Illinois University
9-3,1-0MVC
Valparaiso University
8-4,0-1MVC
Salukis open conference play with win over Crusaders
01/03/2020 | 10:27:00 | Women's Basketball
VALPARAISO, Ind. — The Southern Illinois University women's basketball team won its seventh-straight conference opener with a 67-51 win at Valparaiso Friday night inside the ARC.
The Salukis, winners of four-straight and seven of their last eight contests, shot 53.3-percent (16-of-30) from the field in the first half to build a seven-point halftime lead. Southern cranked up the defensive intensity in the second half and held Valpo to just 15.3% (4-of-26) shooting in the second half. The Crusaders made seven of their first nine shots to open the contest but managed just eight baskets after that.
"It's a good start to the Valley season," seventh-year head coach Cindy Stein said of the win. "We got off to a good start tonight but we tightened up late. Valparaiso is a much-improved team and there was a lot of action offensively that was, at times, difficult to defend. Our kids made some good adjustments defensively and we were able to come out with the win."
On top of SIU's strong defensive effort, the Salukis were dominate on the glass, out-rebounding the Crusaders, 46-to-26. Southern had more than three times the offensive rebounds that Valpo had (18-to-5) and held a 12-to-5 edge in second chance points. SIU set season-highs in both offensive rebounds (18) and total rebounds (46) in the victory and its +20 rebounding margin was its best since Dec. 30, 2016.
"We needed every single one of those rebounds," Stein said. "Valparaiso is too good of a three-point shooting to give them any extra possessions."
Abby Brockmeyer and Makenzie Silvey combined for 41 of SIU's 67 points. Brockmeyer notched her third double-double of the season, and 17th of her career, with 17 points and 12 rebounds. The Raymond, Ill. product accounted for exactly half of SIU's offensive boards, as she snagged a career-high nine in the win. Silvey, meanwhile, notched her sixth 20-point game of the season, as she went for 24 points and added four boards, three steals and two assists.
"The two kids that shined brightest tonight, Abby Brockmeyer and Makenzie Silvey, probably have the highest basketball IQ on our team," Stein said. "They're the ones who could see the gaps, could see the holes and they took advantage of it."
Southern got contributions throughout the lineup in the conference-opening win. Nicole Martin finished with seven points, six rebounds and a season-high two blocks while Kristen Nelson dished out five assists, grabbed five rebounds and tied her career-high with three blocks. Brittney Patrick tallied seven points, four rebounds and four assists while Awa Keita tied her season-highs in both points (7) and rebounds (5).
The contest was a one-possession game for much of the first 18 minutes of play before Southern used back-to-back baskets before the half to build a seven-point halftime advantage. The Crusaders never got closer than to within six in the second half and the Salukis took their largest lead, 16, on Brockmeyer's free throw with one minute remaining in regulation.
The Salukis improved to 7-0 in conference openers under Coach Stein with the win. Southern will look for a 2-0 start to MVC play on Sunday when it takes on the Loyola Ramblers at Gentile Arena at 1 p.m.
NOTES
SIU's seven-straight wins in conference openers is a school record since Southern began conference play in 1982 … SIU's seven conference opening wins under Stein are more wins in conference openers than the Salukis had in the 15 seasons (1998-2013) prior to her arrival … Kristen Nelson has now dished out four-plus assists in five-straight games .. Nelson also tied her career-high with three blocks and added her 99th career steal … Nelson will become the 32nd Saluki in program history to reach the milestone, joining Patrick and Silvey in that club … Martin swiped her 90th career steal in the win over the Crusaders … Silvey is now 20 points shy of 1,000 for her career … She would be the 27th Saluki to reach 1,000 career points … Silvey's 11 career 20-point games are the 18th-most in program history … Silvey made her 153rd three-pointer in the win, which is tied with Danette Jones for the sixth-most in program history … Martin became just the 15th player in program history to reach 1,200 career points … Four-straight wins are the most for the Salukis this season … SIU's 18 offensive boards are a season-high and its most since March 3, 2019.
