Southern Illinois University
0-2,0-0MVC
IUPUI
2-2,0-0Horizon
Salukis battle but fall to IUPUI
11/16/2022 | 8:49:00 | Women's Basketball
The Southern Illinois Salukis battled down to the wire Wednesday against IUPUI but fell to the reigning Horizon League Tournament champion.
After a game to forget on Saturday, Southern battled from the tip and led at times during the game, but the Jaguars came away with the 80-76 victory at the Banterra Center.
"I thought our young ladies took a step tonight, in terms of competing," Head coach Kelly Bond-White said after the game. "I was proud of the effort. We switched up the lineup with the defensive group that we knew might struggle scoring in the first quarter, which we did but I wanted to give a presence as the game went along, especially in that second quarter. Our defense looked like what I wanted it to look like."
IUPUI came out firing in the opening frame, hitting its first three 3-pointers and taking a quick lead on the Salukis.
The Jaguars led 16-10 after the first as the Salukis weathered the storm and regrouped for a much improved second quarter.
Southern scored 29 points in the second as sophomore Tyranny Brown finished with 14 of her game-high 21 points in the frame.
"We've had two days of practice that looked like that second quarter against our practice guys," Bond-White said. "Tyranny, getting downhill, was big. She's comfortable with that. She didn't force it. She made the right kick outs. I told her 'If you let the game come to you, you'll be rewarded with that.' Don't force it, take what the defense gives you and you'll be able to get some looks."
The Salukis led 39-35 at the break, in part to a big 9-0 run during the frame.
Southern held onto its four-point lead going into the final frame and had the game tied 71-all with 2:08 left after a Tamara Nard jumper.
IUPUI's Ali Berg hit one of her four 3-pointers less than a minute later to give the Jags the last lead they would need.
Brown wasn't the only Saluki to have a big day in the scoring column as Jaidynn Mason and Nard each finished with 13 points.
Mason, in her first collegiate start, added five rebounds and three assists. Quierra Love went 2-of-2 from the charity stripe and dished out four assists.
Aja Holmes finished with 11 points on three 3-pointers. Seairra Hughes added eight points off of the bench.
Southern outrebounded IUPUI 43-30 with Promise Taylor pulling down nine boards to go with seven points. Six Salukis had at least four rebounds.
Berg finished with 16 to lead the Jags as they had five in double figures. Natalie Andersen (13 points), Rachel Kent (12 points), Destiny Perkins (12 points) and Logan Lewis (12 points) all had double digits. IUPUI hit 13-of-26 3-pointers in the game.
The Salukis now turn their attention to Northwestern as Southern faces its first road test of the season.
SIU takes on the Wildcats at 2 p.m. Saturday in Evanston.
