Southern Illinois University
3-11,1-4MVC
Indiana State
3-13,1-4MVC
Recap | Big Fourth Quarter Leads to Women’s Basketball Securing First Valley Win at Indiana State, 63-58
01/16/2025 | 8:57:00 | Women's Basketball
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - In a seesaw battle that came down to the wire, the Southern Illinois University women's basketball team (3-11 overall, 1-4 conference) came out on top at Indiana State on Thursday, winning by a final score of 63-58.
The Salukis catapulted in front after a fourth quarter where they out-scored the Sycamores, 18-9, and shot 50% from the field. Southern held Indiana State to just 25% field-goal shooting in the final 10 minutes.
Gift Uchenna had another big performance in the win, scoring a tied for game-high 20 points with 17 rebounds and four blocks. Alice Curman also scored in double figures, tallying 10 points on 2-of-6 shooting from deep.
It was a defensive battle in the opening quarter, with SIU leading, 12-11, at the end of one. Both teams shot below 30% from the field in the first.
Uchenna had a team-high seven points in the first 10 minutes.
Indiana State's strongest quarter of the night came in the second. The Sycamores scored 25 points with 10 offensive rebounds and 11 second chance points.
At the halftime break, the hosts led, 36-29. Uchenna's 11 points in the first half led the team, while Kayla Cooper and Mia Gaines both had five points each.
The turnaround for Southern began in the third quarter, where it out-scored Indiana State, 16-13. SIU held the Sycamores to 24% shooting from the field in the third.
It was Southern Illinois' turn to dominate the offensive glass in the third, securing seven offensive rebounds and six second chance points.
In the fourth quarter, the Salukis put together their most well-rounded performance of the game. SIU scored 18 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the field and went 3-of-7 from deep. Isabella Palmqvist hit the go-ahead three-pointer with 2:23 remaining to give SIU the lead.
In a one possession game with less than a minute to go, Curman hit a layup despite being fouled to put the Salukis up, 61-56, with 0:34 remaining.
Southern held on in the final seconds to earn the 63-58 victory. SIU out-rebounded Indiana State, 52-47, in the win.
Uchenna's double-double was her eighth of the season, which ranks inside the top 20 in the NCAA.
The Salukis will remain on the road on Sunday when it travels to Evansville at 1 p.m.
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