Monday, December 29
Carbondale, Ill.
6 p.m.
Southern Illinois University
3-8,0-2MVC
56
vs
68
Belmont
6-7,2-0MVC
1
2
3
4
F
Belmont
14
11
25
18
68
Southern Ill.
11
9
13
23
56
Troublesome Third Quarter Sinks Salukis Versus Bruins
12/29/2025 | 9:19:00 | Women's Basketball
CARBONDALE, Ill. – Southern Illinois women's basketball (3-8, 0-2) returned to action after Christmas Break with a Monday night game versus Belmont (6-7, 2-0). After a competitive first half, the Bruins pulled away in the third quarter to hand Southern a 68-56 loss.
"It's the brand of basketball I desperately want to play," says head coach Kelly Bond-White about her squad's resiliency. "It's what we do, and we just got to get to a point where we can spot that more because our fans enjoy watching that and our kids enjoy playing that way as well. We just got to be able to do it and sustain it for a little bit longer."
Inside the Box Score
How it Happened
First Quarter
SIU jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first 2:30 of the game thanks to free throws from Nelson and a bucket from Green. Belmont hit a three to cut the lead down to one, and, after another Nelson free-throw make, the Bruins tied the game at 5-5 with 5:36 left in the first.
Following almost two minutes of scoreless action, a successful charity stripe trip by the Bruins gave Belmont their first lead of the game. After trading some points, five straight Belmont points built them a 14-8 lead. Kraus hit a three in the final minute of the quarter to make it a one-possession game and 14-11 after 10 minutes of action.
Second Quarter
A good layup by Kraus coming out of the break cut the deficit to one briefly before a Bruin basket made it 16-13. A 5-0 run by the Salukis gave them an 18-16 lead at the 6:48 mark. However, nine straight points by Southern over the next several minutes built a 25-18 lead for the Bruins.
SIU broke their scoring drought with just under 90 seconds to play in the half thanks to a Davis free throw, and another Salukis free throw with 12 seconds left made it 25-20 heading into halftime.
Third Quarter
Coming out of half, the Bruins jumped their lead up to nine, 29-20, before a Jeniah Thompson layup brought it to 29-22. Kraus scoring on a jumper cut into the Bruins' lead even more, and, following a pair of Belmont free-throw makes, a three-ball from Kraus made it a four-point game.
After trading buckets over the next two minutes, 11 consecutive Belmont points ballooned their lead up to 46-31. Kraus hit another shot to end the Bruin run, but four more Belmont points before the quarter buzzer sounded made it 50-33 heading into the fourth.
Fourth Quarter
A minute of no scoring opened the fourth before Karris Allen got the points flowing again with a layup. A perfect trip at the free-throw line from Kraus made it a 13-point game, but a three from Belmont quickly made the deficit 16 again.
Two minutes flew by before the next bucket, a Cooper layup. Belmont kept pushing however, scoring five straight to make it 58-39 with 3:33 to play. A three from Allen helped the Salukis, and a 4-0 run from Kraus cut the gap to 12 points with under 2:00 to play.
Cooper hit a three after a pair of Belmont free throws to make it an 11-point game with 93 seconds remaining, but a Bruin layup and free throw put the game truly out of reach with 1:21 remaining. By the time the final buzzer rang, the Salukis stood on the wrong side of a 68-56 loss.
Up Next
Once 2026 hits, the Salukis are off to Iowa for a prolonged roadtrip. Up first is Drake, who the Salukis play on Friday, Jan. 2, at 6 p.m.
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.
"It's the brand of basketball I desperately want to play," says head coach Kelly Bond-White about her squad's resiliency. "It's what we do, and we just got to get to a point where we can spot that more because our fans enjoy watching that and our kids enjoy playing that way as well. We just got to be able to do it and sustain it for a little bit longer."
Inside the Box Score
- Alayna Kraus kept her double-digit points streak with a 20-piece. She also grabbed four rebounds and a block.
- Kayla Cooper joined Kraus in double-digits with 10. She added five rebounds as well.
- Indya Green led the team in rebounds with seven while Tkiyah Nelson and Kynnedi Davis both dished out a game-high four assists.
How it Happened
First Quarter
SIU jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first 2:30 of the game thanks to free throws from Nelson and a bucket from Green. Belmont hit a three to cut the lead down to one, and, after another Nelson free-throw make, the Bruins tied the game at 5-5 with 5:36 left in the first.
Following almost two minutes of scoreless action, a successful charity stripe trip by the Bruins gave Belmont their first lead of the game. After trading some points, five straight Belmont points built them a 14-8 lead. Kraus hit a three in the final minute of the quarter to make it a one-possession game and 14-11 after 10 minutes of action.
Second Quarter
A good layup by Kraus coming out of the break cut the deficit to one briefly before a Bruin basket made it 16-13. A 5-0 run by the Salukis gave them an 18-16 lead at the 6:48 mark. However, nine straight points by Southern over the next several minutes built a 25-18 lead for the Bruins.
SIU broke their scoring drought with just under 90 seconds to play in the half thanks to a Davis free throw, and another Salukis free throw with 12 seconds left made it 25-20 heading into halftime.
Third Quarter
Coming out of half, the Bruins jumped their lead up to nine, 29-20, before a Jeniah Thompson layup brought it to 29-22. Kraus scoring on a jumper cut into the Bruins' lead even more, and, following a pair of Belmont free-throw makes, a three-ball from Kraus made it a four-point game.
After trading buckets over the next two minutes, 11 consecutive Belmont points ballooned their lead up to 46-31. Kraus hit another shot to end the Bruin run, but four more Belmont points before the quarter buzzer sounded made it 50-33 heading into the fourth.
Fourth Quarter
A minute of no scoring opened the fourth before Karris Allen got the points flowing again with a layup. A perfect trip at the free-throw line from Kraus made it a 13-point game, but a three from Belmont quickly made the deficit 16 again.
Two minutes flew by before the next bucket, a Cooper layup. Belmont kept pushing however, scoring five straight to make it 58-39 with 3:33 to play. A three from Allen helped the Salukis, and a 4-0 run from Kraus cut the gap to 12 points with under 2:00 to play.
Cooper hit a three after a pair of Belmont free throws to make it an 11-point game with 93 seconds remaining, but a Bruin layup and free throw put the game truly out of reach with 1:21 remaining. By the time the final buzzer rang, the Salukis stood on the wrong side of a 68-56 loss.
Up Next
Once 2026 hits, the Salukis are off to Iowa for a prolonged roadtrip. Up first is Drake, who the Salukis play on Friday, Jan. 2, at 6 p.m.
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
BEL
SIU
FG%
.350
.327
3FG%
.222
.313
FT%
.759
.652
RB
40
42
TO
13
23
STL
12
3
Game Leaders
Pts
20
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
6
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
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