Southern Illinois University
0-1,0-0MVC
Auburn
1-0,0-0SEC
Recap | Southern Illinois Drops Season-Opener, 65-31, at Auburn
11/04/2024 | 9:15:00 | Women's Basketball
AUBURN, Ala. - The Southern Illinois University women's basketball team (0-1) took the loss in its first game of the season, falling at Auburn, 65-31.
The game started off as a defensive battle, as both teams held the opposition to single-digit point totals inside the opening 10 minutes. The Tigers led the Salukis, 8-7, after one.
Southern Illinois held Auburn to a field-goal percentage of 20.0% in the first quarter and 0-for-3 three-point shooting. Senior Tyranny Brown drained her first three of the season in the quarter.
Auburn got going in the second quarter, scoring 19 points on 53.3% shooting from the field and 2-of-3 shooting from deep. After out-scoring SIU, 19-8, in the frame, the Tigers took a 27-15 lead into the halftime break.
The Salukis shot 22.2% from the field in the opening half. Gift Uchenna led the Dawgs with eight points and seven rebounds after 20 minutes.
In the third quarter, Auburn's efficiency from the field dropped, as the Tigers shot 36.8%, but a 2-of-3 quarter from deep saw the hosts out-score SIU, 19-10. Kayla Cooper hit Southern's lone three-pointer of the frame.
Auburn finished things off in the fourth, out-scoring the Salukis, 19-6, to win by a final score of 65-31.
As a team, Southern Illinois shot 20.0% from the field, 27.3% from three-point range, and 61.5% at the free throw line. SIU forced 18 turnovers, but had 29.
Uchenna was the Salukis' top scorer, finishing the game with eight points and nine rebounds. Uchenna was followed by Cooper's six points on 2-of-3 shooting from beyond-the-arc.
Southern Illinois will return to Carbondale on Sunday for its home opener against Eastern Kentucky at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 10.
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