Southern Illinois University
15-10,7-7MVC
University of Evansville
3-23,0-15MVC
Salukis blow out the Aces, 99-60
02/23/2020 | 6:04:00 | Women's Basketball
Southern’s 39-point margin of victory was its largest in a conference game since 1991.
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Four Salukis scored in double figures to help the Southern Illinois University women's basketball team blow out the Evansville Purple Aces, 99-60, Sunday afternoon inside Banterra Center.
Southern dominated in all facets of the game Sunday. SIU out-rebounded Evansville, 35-to-23, shot a season-best 58.7-percent (37-of-63) from the field and tied a season-high with 26 assists. The Salukis also turned the ball over a season-low seven times and finished with double-digits steals for the sixth-straight game. SIU's 39-point margin of victory was its largest in a conference game since Feb. 21, 1991.
"I felt good about how we rebounded the basketball and how we played defense," seventh-year head coach Cindy Stein said. "We also shared the basketball extremely well. Some of the team things that we did- hugging a kid that got a reaction foul, cheering on a kid that hadn't scored yet and doesn't usually get to play a lot - I love the spirit and the passion of that. As a coach, I'm more proud of that than I am of the win."
SIU raced out to a 16-4 lead after the first five minutes of play and took a 29-point lead (60-31) into the half. Southern opened up its biggest lead, 43, with 2:24 remaining in the contest. The Salukis led for all but 15 seconds of the contest and their 36-point outburst in the first quarter was its most in an opening stanza since the quarter system went into effect in 2016.
"When you have such a big lead, the worst thing you can do is take quick shots," Stein said. "We wanted to continue with our game plan regardless of the score."
22 of SIU's first 36 points came in the paint. Nicole Martin scored 12 of her team-high 19 points in the first quarter, while Abby Brockmeyer scored five points and added six boards in the frame.
"We always talk about our presence in the paint and right away, Abby and Nicole did a good job of establishing themselves in the paint. They both did a nice job of absorbing contact, drawing fouls and getting to the line."
With the win, Southern sweeps the season series from Evansville and have now won six-straight over the Aces. Payton McCallister tied her career-high with 15 points on an efficient 5-of-9 shooting while Kristen Nelson chipped in 11 points and five assists. Abby Brockmeyer finished with 14 points, seven rebounds, two blocks and two steals.
All 14 Salukis played at least four minutes, and 13 of SIU's 14 players scored at least one basket. Allea Potter knocked down her first collegiate three-pointer late in the contest, while Frankie Kokkines drew a roaring applause from her teammates after she got her defender off her feet and drove to the basket for a layup late in the fourth quarter.
Southern's 26 assists not not tied a season-high, but are tied for the sixth-most in a game in school history. 10 Salukis recorded at least one assist in the win, led by five each from Nelson and Makenzie Silvey.
The Salukis close out the road portion of the 2019-20 regular season next weekend. Southern takes on Bradley on Thursday, Feb. 27 before traveling to Illinois State on Sunday, March 1.
