Southern Illinois University
6-6,3-0MVC
Bradley
3-11,0-3MVC
Salukis bounce Bradley, start Missouri Valley play 3-0
01/05/2023 | 9:02:00 | Women's Basketball
Southern leads wire-to-wire as SIU is back at .500
For the second-straight season, the Southern Illinois Salukis are 3-0 to start Missouri Valley Conference play and as of Thursday evening are atop the conference.
To achieve their undefeated start, the Salukis (6-6) took care of Bradley as they led wire-to-wire in their 83-65 victory on a night that featured the banner drops for last season's MVC Regular Season MVC title and WNIT appearance, along with Head Coach Kelly Bond-White receiving a game ball for her first win back on Nov. 26 against Lehigh in the opener of the Christmas City Classic.
Bond-White said it was important for her team to be able to see the banners unveiled.
"I truly believe you've got to see it to remember what's at stake, remember what you're capable of and honor those people," she said. "Last year's team, they played really, really hard and they played together."
Bond-White said she challenged her team before the game and they responded in a big way.
"I really liked our energy coming out, that was the challenge to our young ladies. Not to take this team for granted," Bond-White said after the game. "I thought we showed them respect but what I told them against that zone is I wanted to get out and run."
Run the Dawgs did.
Southern had its best opening quarter of the season as it led 20-6 after one and 43-25 at halftime.
SIU had 60 points in the paint and outrebounded Bradley 41-30.
Sophomore forward Laniah Randle had her second double-double of the season as she had a game-high 25 points to go with 11 rebounds, including four on the offensive end. Randle was 12-of-15 from the floor with her being just one of several Salukis to have a strong shooting night.
Southern shot 54.8% from the floor but only hit four 3-pointers in the victory.
Ashley Jones finished with 20 points with Shemera Williams (13 points) and Promise Taylor (11 points) also finishing in double digits for SIU.
The victory puts Southern at .500 for the first time this season at 6-6.
The Salukis are back in action at 2 p.m. on Saturday when they take on Illinois State at the Banterra Center. The Redbirds are coming off of a 67-63 win over Missouri State on Thursday.
