Wednesday, December 3
Birmingham, AL
11 a.m.
Southern Illinois University
1-6,0-0MVC
54
at
81
UAB
4-4,0-0American
1
2
3
4
F
Southern Ill.
10
13
20
11
54
UAB
21
14
17
29
81
Photo by: Peter Borkowski
Salukis Run Into Hot Shooting Again, Fall 81-54 at UAB
12/03/2025 | 2:10:00 | Women's Basketball
CARBONDALE, Ill. – It was an early Wednesday for Southern Illinois women's basketball (1-6, 0-0), who visited UAB (4-4, 0-0) for an afternoon tilt. While competitive at points, UAB's offense proved too much to handle, hitting 15 threes on their way to a 81-54 win over the Salukis.
Inside the Box Score
How it Happened
First Quarter
Southern drew first blood, scoring the first four points of the game. But a three-pointer followed by a pair of layups quickly gave UAB a 7-4 lead. After SIU pulled within one, another Birmingham three made it 10-6.
Four straight Kraus points tied the game at 10-10, but this is where the Blazer took over, going on a 11-0 run to take a commanding 21-10 lead. The Salukis ended the quarter with a 5:24 scoreless draught to trail 11 going into the break.
Second Quarter
SIU grabbed the first point coming out of the quarter break, but a three by UAB quickly ended any chance at SIU momentum. The Salukis pulled back within 11, 24-13 thanks to a Tkiyah Nelson layup, but five consecutive points from the Blazer jumped their lead up to 29-13.
Nelson pulled off a three-point play the old-fashioned way with an and-one conversion, but that did little to slow down the UAB offense. After trading baskets for a few minutes, Southern cut the deficit down to 10, 33-23 to less than 90 seconds to play in the half.
The Blazers scored the final basket of the half with 1:26 to go, setting the score at 35-23 as the teams left the floor for the locker rooms.
Third Quarter
The Salukis came out hot in the third quarter, scoring the first four points to make it an eight-point game. UAB would grab three points back, and the lead stayed at 11 until the 5:25 mark when the Blazers led 42-31.
Another four-point spree from SIU brought the Salukis back within seven, but another timely Blazer three made it a double-digit deficit again. Kraus hit a three with 2:44 to play in the quarter before a pair of Carmen Morales free-throw makes got Southern within five at the two-minute mark.
After a few flagrant fouls were issued to the two squads, UAB stopped the bleeding with a layup. Then the Blazer later hit a three to bump the lead back up to nine, 50-41. Kraus hit a layup with 18 seconds remaining, but that was quickly negated by a buzzer-beating jumper from UAB to make it 52-43 heading to the final frame of play.
Fourth Quarter
Following alternating buckets to set the score at 57-47, an eight-point jaunt from the Blazers swiftly made it 65-47 with 5:42 to play. Southern would grab four points back after a trip to the charity stripe and Nelson layup.
UAB ended this mini-SIU run with a make from beyond the arc followed up by another three-pointer to go up 20, 71-51. After a pair of free-throw makes by the Blazers, Jeniah Thompson attempted to get the Salukis back in it with a three, but that was followed by five straight Blazer points.
The Blazers scored the final three points of the game with 22 seconds left to play, setting the final score at 81-54.
Up Next
The Salukis are back at home next. On Saturday, Dec. 6, SEMO comes to Carbondale for a 2 p.m. contest.
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.
Inside the Box Score
- Alayna Kraus continued her streak of scoring double-digit points, dropping a team-high 14. She also led all Salukis in assists with three.
- Indya Green registered her first double-double as a Saluki. The Georgia Southern transfer potted 11 points while snagging 11 boards.
- Kayla Cooper was the final Saluki to score 10+ with her 11 points.
How it Happened
First Quarter
Southern drew first blood, scoring the first four points of the game. But a three-pointer followed by a pair of layups quickly gave UAB a 7-4 lead. After SIU pulled within one, another Birmingham three made it 10-6.
Four straight Kraus points tied the game at 10-10, but this is where the Blazer took over, going on a 11-0 run to take a commanding 21-10 lead. The Salukis ended the quarter with a 5:24 scoreless draught to trail 11 going into the break.
Second Quarter
SIU grabbed the first point coming out of the quarter break, but a three by UAB quickly ended any chance at SIU momentum. The Salukis pulled back within 11, 24-13 thanks to a Tkiyah Nelson layup, but five consecutive points from the Blazer jumped their lead up to 29-13.
Nelson pulled off a three-point play the old-fashioned way with an and-one conversion, but that did little to slow down the UAB offense. After trading baskets for a few minutes, Southern cut the deficit down to 10, 33-23 to less than 90 seconds to play in the half.
The Blazers scored the final basket of the half with 1:26 to go, setting the score at 35-23 as the teams left the floor for the locker rooms.
Third Quarter
The Salukis came out hot in the third quarter, scoring the first four points to make it an eight-point game. UAB would grab three points back, and the lead stayed at 11 until the 5:25 mark when the Blazers led 42-31.
Another four-point spree from SIU brought the Salukis back within seven, but another timely Blazer three made it a double-digit deficit again. Kraus hit a three with 2:44 to play in the quarter before a pair of Carmen Morales free-throw makes got Southern within five at the two-minute mark.
After a few flagrant fouls were issued to the two squads, UAB stopped the bleeding with a layup. Then the Blazer later hit a three to bump the lead back up to nine, 50-41. Kraus hit a layup with 18 seconds remaining, but that was quickly negated by a buzzer-beating jumper from UAB to make it 52-43 heading to the final frame of play.
Fourth Quarter
Following alternating buckets to set the score at 57-47, an eight-point jaunt from the Blazers swiftly made it 65-47 with 5:42 to play. Southern would grab four points back after a trip to the charity stripe and Nelson layup.
UAB ended this mini-SIU run with a make from beyond the arc followed up by another three-pointer to go up 20, 71-51. After a pair of free-throw makes by the Blazers, Jeniah Thompson attempted to get the Salukis back in it with a three, but that was followed by five straight Blazer points.
The Blazers scored the final three points of the game with 22 seconds left to play, setting the final score at 81-54.
Up Next
The Salukis are back at home next. On Saturday, Dec. 6, SEMO comes to Carbondale for a 2 p.m. contest.
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
UAB
FG%
.339
.526
3FG%
.300
.469
FT%
.786
.600
RB
34
34
TO
15
13
STL
7
5
Game Leaders
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
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