Southern Illinois University
Indiana State University
Salukis run away from Sycamores, 60-42
02/21/2020 | 9:31:00 | Women's Basketball
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Three Salukis scored in double figures to help the Southern Illinois University women's basketball team run away from the Indiana State Sycamores, 60-42 Friday night inside Banterra Center.
It was a wire-to-wire win for the Salukis (14-10, 6-7), who led by as many as 20. Southern got going in earnest in the second quarter when four-straight points by Nicole Martin allowed SIU to take a double-digit lead (28-17) into the half.
"I'll be honest- heading into this game I was a little worried," seventh-year head coach Cindy Stein said. "Indiana State has kept improving throughout the season so I knew they were going to come out here with a flurry. I knew they were going to do everything to knock us off our rhythm. It was difficult to get momentum throughout the game. We had decent runs but what was significant tonight is that we found a way to get the ball inside and we got to the foul line through Nicole Martin. Gabby Walker did a good job inside and Abby Brockmeyer was great on the boards."
Nicole Martin led the way, as she finished with a game-high 17 points and added nine rebounds and a block. Indiana State didn't have an answer inside for the two-time All-MVC first team selection, as she was fouled 12 times and went to the line 11 times.
"What I loved about Nicole's game is that she demanded the ball," Stein said. "When she has that kind of presence in the paint it takes all the pressure off of everyone else. She had great seals, went after the ball and did a great job of controlling the paint."
Makenzie Silvey scored all 10 of her points in the first half before running into foul trouble. Payton McCallister filled in for Silvey and had her best game of the season, as she went 5-for-10 from the field for a season-high 12 points.
"Payton did a great job of making herself available and was ready to shoot," Stein said. "I thought she did a great job coming off the bench and really helped our momentum."
Southern's defense was excellent, as they held Indiana State to a season-low 42 points on 30.4% shooting. The Salukis held the Sycamores without a three-pointer, which marked the first time since Jan. 3, 2019 that Southern has held an opponent without a 3-ball. SIU also finished with double-digit steals for the fifth-straight game, as it forced 19 turnovers and came away with 11 steals.
While McCallister was Southern's offensive spark off the bench, Awa Keita ignited SIU's defense. The junior transfer accounted for a career-high five steals, tied her career-best with five rebounds and added a block and an assist in 13 minutes.
"Awa's defense changed the game and helped us get out to a big lead," Stein said. "I said when we recruited her that she is the type of player that can change a game defensively and she definitely showed that today."
Abby Brockmeyer added eight rebounds, six points and two steals while Gabby Walker chipped in seven points and three boards.
With the win, Southern sweeps the season series from Indiana State and has now won 11 of the last 13 meetings between the two programs. The victory also snapped a three-game losing skid for the Salukis.
"This was the best thing to happen to us- we needed to win," Stein said. "Our kids have been working hard. We knew our free throw shooting hasn't been great but they are in the gym, getting extra shots up every day. We felt like all along this type of a result was forthcoming because basketball is a game that rewards itself through that kind of time and effort."
The Salukis are back in action on Sunday, Feb. 23 when they host the Evansville Purple Aces. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.
