Southern Illinois University
8-13,5-11MVC
University of Northern Iowa
12-11,9-7MVC
Salukis fall to Panthers, 67-56
03/05/2021 | 9:51:00 | Women's Basketball
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Senior Makenzie Silvey recorded her second-straight double-double of the season with 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Southern Illinois University women's basketball team but it wasn't enough as the Northern Iowa Panthers pulled out a 67-56 win inside Banterra Center.
The Panthers closed the first half on a 14-5 run that turned a one-point game into a double-digit lead for the visitors. The Salukis fought back, as they tied the contest, 41-all with 2:24 to play in the third and trailed by just four at the end of the period. UNI, however, was able to take advantage of SIU's miscues and got to the free throw line in the fourth. The Panthers shot 10 of their 16 free throws in the final stanza.
"Our kids played with great grit and heart but we've got to be better with some of our untimely turnovers offensively," head coach Cindy Stein said. "We have to play with more confidence beyond Gabby and Makenzie. We have to get a couple of others playing with more confidence. The game came down to we needed to get stops, but we put them at the free throw line and that's not the way you get stops. It was a hard-fought game and I thought we did some really good things but we also had some undisciplined play offensively."
Southern was able to get back into the game thanks to its stellar third quarter shooting. SIU shot 53.8-percent (7-of-13) in the quarter, which included 2-for-2 from behind the arc, to outscore the Panthers, 20-to-14. SIU again cut its deficit down to one, 45-44 on a three-pointer by Quierra Love with 8:44 to play in regulation but that was as close as it could get.
The Salukis won the battle of the boards, 37-to-32 and finished with 14 assists on 22 made baskets. Gabby Walker dished out a career-high six helpers to go along with her 15 points.
"When our spacing was good, we found good shots," Stein said. "When we crowded each other, we made it tough for each other. We've got to continue to iron those things out."
Silvey and Walker were the lone Salukis to reach double figures. The two combined for 57-percent (32-of-56) of SIU's points Friday. Adrianna Katcher chipped in eight points and five boards while Caitlin Link added five points and four boards.
UNI was led by Karli Rucker, who finished with a game-high 23 points.
The Salukis and the Panthers will close out the regular season on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m.
