Friday, January 31
Normal, IL
6:30 PM
Southern Illinois University
3-15,1-8MVC
60
at
78
Illinois State
13-7,7-2MVC
1
2
3
4
F
Southern Ill.
14
13
19
14
60
Illinois St.
19
25
17
17
78
Recap | Cooper Posts Career-High 21 Points as Salukis Drop Road Contest at Illinois State, 78-60
01/31/2025 | 9:47:00 | Women's Basketball
NORMAL, Ill. - Kayla Cooper had a career-high 21 points as the Southern Illinois University women's basketball team (3-15 overall, 1-8 conference) lost, 78-60, at Illinois State on Friday night.
The Salukis were unable to minimize their turnovers against the Redbirds, finishing the game with 22 while forcing 11. Southern shot 38% from the field, 25% from deep, and 69% at the free throw line in the loss.
Cooper's 21 points came on 3-of-6 three-point shooting, while Gift Uchenna posted her 12th double-double of the season with 12 points and 14 rebounds.
Illinois State had a 19-14 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Redbirds led, 17-8, at the 2:15 mark before SIU went on a 6-2 run to cut the deficit to five at the end of one. Southern shot 50% from the field in the quarter, but were 0-of-5 from deep and had seven turnovers.
Three different Salukis had four points in the first, with Uchenna, Cooper, and Alice Curman all tallying four points each to begin the game.
The Redbirds were dominant in the second quarter, out-scoring the Salukis, 25-13. Illinois State shot 67% (10-of-15) from the field in the second with forward Addison Martin's 12 points leading the way. Martin had 20 points in the first half.
Southern Illinois went 2-of-5 from beyond the arc in the quarter, with both Cooper and Tyranny Brown connecting on shots from deep.
The Salukis trailed, 44-27, at the end of the first half. SIU had 12 turnovers while Illinois State had five after the first 20 minutes.
SIU out-scored Illinois State, 19-17, in the third behind strong three-point shooting. The Salukis went 3-of-6 from three-point range in the quarter. Cooper was 2-of-3, while Brown hit her one attempt from deep.
Both teams were held below 20 points again in the fourth, with Illinois State taking the final quarter, 17-14, to win by a final score of 78-60.
Curman and Brown both had eight points each behind Cooper and Uchenna, while Tkiyah Nelson scored six points in the loss.
SIU will look to snap a four-game losing skid on Sunday when it travels to Bradley at 2 p.m. in Peoria, Ill.
FOLLOW THE SALUKIS
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Salukis by following the team on Twitter at @SIU_WBasketball, on Instagram at @SIU_WBasketball, and on Facebook at Facebook.com/SalukiAthletics. Fans can also download the "Salukis" Mobile App on the App Store or Google Play Store.
The Salukis were unable to minimize their turnovers against the Redbirds, finishing the game with 22 while forcing 11. Southern shot 38% from the field, 25% from deep, and 69% at the free throw line in the loss.
Cooper's 21 points came on 3-of-6 three-point shooting, while Gift Uchenna posted her 12th double-double of the season with 12 points and 14 rebounds.
Illinois State had a 19-14 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Redbirds led, 17-8, at the 2:15 mark before SIU went on a 6-2 run to cut the deficit to five at the end of one. Southern shot 50% from the field in the quarter, but were 0-of-5 from deep and had seven turnovers.
Three different Salukis had four points in the first, with Uchenna, Cooper, and Alice Curman all tallying four points each to begin the game.
The Redbirds were dominant in the second quarter, out-scoring the Salukis, 25-13. Illinois State shot 67% (10-of-15) from the field in the second with forward Addison Martin's 12 points leading the way. Martin had 20 points in the first half.
Southern Illinois went 2-of-5 from beyond the arc in the quarter, with both Cooper and Tyranny Brown connecting on shots from deep.
The Salukis trailed, 44-27, at the end of the first half. SIU had 12 turnovers while Illinois State had five after the first 20 minutes.
SIU out-scored Illinois State, 19-17, in the third behind strong three-point shooting. The Salukis went 3-of-6 from three-point range in the quarter. Cooper was 2-of-3, while Brown hit her one attempt from deep.
Both teams were held below 20 points again in the fourth, with Illinois State taking the final quarter, 17-14, to win by a final score of 78-60.
Curman and Brown both had eight points each behind Cooper and Uchenna, while Tkiyah Nelson scored six points in the loss.
SIU will look to snap a four-game losing skid on Sunday when it travels to Bradley at 2 p.m. in Peoria, Ill.
FOLLOW THE SALUKIS
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Salukis by following the team on Twitter at @SIU_WBasketball, on Instagram at @SIU_WBasketball, and on Facebook at Facebook.com/SalukiAthletics. Fans can also download the "Salukis" Mobile App on the App Store or Google Play Store.
Team Stats
SIU
ILS
FG%
.383
.484
3FG%
.250
.300
FT%
.692
.600
RB
41
33
TO
22
11
STL
5
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
21
FGM
8
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
12
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's BasketballF
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