Southern Illinois University
8-12,5-10MVC
Valparaiso University
10-10,6-7MVC
Hot-shooting powers Valpo to 75-64 win over Salukis
02/27/2021 | 8:54:00 | Women's Basketball
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Valparaiso used a hot-shooting performance to defeat the Southern Illinois Salukis, 75-64 Saturday evening inside Banterra Center.
Valpo blistered the nets Saturday, as they shot 58.1-percent from the field (25-of-43), which included 75-percent (15-of-20) from three-point range. Southern shot 47.3-percent (26-of-55) from the field to try and keep pace, but were just 7-of-24 (29.2%) from behind the arc. Not only did the Brown and Gold shoot well from deep, they also forced 21 SIU turnovers that it converted into 31 points.
The Salukis did win the rebounding battle, 31-to-19 and held Valpo to just one offensive rebound. Southern also tallied 18 second chance points.
"I don't have many good things to say about our performance," head coach Cindy Stein said. "I didn't feel like we executed the game plan well and we didn't do what we set out to do. We didn't take care of the ball. The only thing I felt like we did well was rebound. We've got to be better tomorrow. I've got to be a lot better coach and get them to listen to me. Hats off to Valpo- they shot the ball extremely well and we didn't have an answer."
SIU led by six at the end of the first but were outscored 22-11 in the second quarter. Southern's four-point halftime deficit would've been larger had it not been for a half-court buzzer beater from Caitlin Link as the clock expired.
The Salukis cut their deficit to three, 38-35 with 7:11 to go in the third but Valpo used a 13-2 run over the next four minutes to build a 14-point advantage. Southern got it to within six on a layup by Link with :37 to play, but that was as close as they could get.
Four Salukis scored in double figures in the loss. Link had one of her best performances as a Saluki, as she set career-bests in both points (14) and assists (8). Payton McCallister went for 16 points, as did Makenzie Silvey. Silvey added six boards, four assists and three steals. Gabby Walker chipped in 10 points and five boards.
Shay Frederick did the heavy lifting for Valpo, as she finished with a game-high 28 points.
SIU and Valpo will tangle again tomorrow at 4 p.m. inside Banterra Center.
