Thursday, January 8
Carbondale, Ill.
6 p.m.
Southern Illinois University
3-11,0-5MVC
70
vs
75
Evansville
4-11,2-2MVC
1
2
3
4
F
Evansville
19
13
22
21
75
Southern Ill.
21
15
15
19
70
Women’s Basketball Falls to Evansville in Back-And-Forth Affair
01/08/2026 | 10:40:00 | Women's Basketball
CARBONDALE, Ill. – After starting the calendar year on the road, Southern Illinois women's basketball (3-11, 0-5) returned to Banterra Center on Thursday to host Evansville (4-11, 2-2). Following a back-and-forth game, the Purple Aces eventually pulled away to win 75-70.
"Defensively, we got to step up; we got to step up," says head coach Kelly Bond-White. "When we make an adjustment, we have to stick with it."
Inside the Box Score
How it Happened
First Quarter
SIU got on the scoreboard with a quick jumper from Indya Green. About a minute later, Evansville evened things up, but Thompson gave SIU the lead back with a threeball. Five straight points from the Aces put them back in front, and they grabbed the lead again after Southern briefly tied things up at 7-7.
After nearly a minute without points, the teams traded buckets until an Alayna Kraus layup gave SIU a 13-11 lead. The Aces tied the game again at the 4:33 mark, and went on to take a brief 15-13 lead before SIU tied it up once more.
A Nelson make put the Salukis on top again, but Evansville would once again knot things up. Four straight points from SIU gave the Salukis some breathing room, and the Aces followed that up with a pair of free throws to make the score 21-19 in favor of Southern heading to the second quarter.
Second Quarter
Following a score from each team to open the second quarter, Evansville scored consecutive baskets to take a lead. That lead did not last long, as Southern dropped nine straight points over the next couple of minutes to go up 32-24.
The Aces responded with eight points of their own to even things up, but SIU scored the final four points of the half to take a 36-32 lead into halftime.
Third Quarter
Coming out of half, the Salukis could not shake the Aces, as every time they scored, Evansville responded to keep the deficit close. Even when SIU built an eight-point lead at 6:21, a three-pointer by the Aces made it a five-point game. After an Evansville bucket, the teams traded buckets to keep the difference at two.
Evansville finally broke through at 1:39, hitting a three-pointer to take a 50-49 lead. A layup after that extended their lead to three. The Salukis pulled within one, 52-51, with 36 seconds on the clock, but Evansville free throws to end the quarter made it 54-51 with 10 minutes left.
Fourth Quarter
Four points to start the fourth from Southern put the Salukis on top 55-54, but two free throws over a minute later put the Aces back on top 56-55. A Thompson layup put Southern in front again, and free throws from her as well made it a three-point game.
Free throws and a layup from the Aces gave them a 60-59 lead, which did not last long before Thompson gave SIU the lead again. The Aces hit a three to take a momentary 63-61 lead, which Allen erased with a layup.
Following a free throw put SIU in front again, the teams exchanged baskets until Evansville was up 67-66. A Nelson free throw knotted the game up, but a 4-0 run from the Aces put them on top 71-67 with two minutes to go. A free throw and basket pulled Southern within one, but four free throws from Evansville sealed the game for the Aces, handing SIU a 75-70 loss.
Up Next
Southern is right back at home on Saturday, January 10, with a 2 p.m. match versus Valparaiso.
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.
"Defensively, we got to step up; we got to step up," says head coach Kelly Bond-White. "When we make an adjustment, we have to stick with it."
Inside the Box Score
- Jeniah Thompson added another double-double to her season total with 19 points and 12 rebounds.
- Karris Allen and Indya Green hit double-digit points with 15 and 11.
- Tkiyah Nelson dished out a game-high six assists.
How it Happened
First Quarter
SIU got on the scoreboard with a quick jumper from Indya Green. About a minute later, Evansville evened things up, but Thompson gave SIU the lead back with a threeball. Five straight points from the Aces put them back in front, and they grabbed the lead again after Southern briefly tied things up at 7-7.
After nearly a minute without points, the teams traded buckets until an Alayna Kraus layup gave SIU a 13-11 lead. The Aces tied the game again at the 4:33 mark, and went on to take a brief 15-13 lead before SIU tied it up once more.
A Nelson make put the Salukis on top again, but Evansville would once again knot things up. Four straight points from SIU gave the Salukis some breathing room, and the Aces followed that up with a pair of free throws to make the score 21-19 in favor of Southern heading to the second quarter.
Second Quarter
Following a score from each team to open the second quarter, Evansville scored consecutive baskets to take a lead. That lead did not last long, as Southern dropped nine straight points over the next couple of minutes to go up 32-24.
The Aces responded with eight points of their own to even things up, but SIU scored the final four points of the half to take a 36-32 lead into halftime.
Third Quarter
Coming out of half, the Salukis could not shake the Aces, as every time they scored, Evansville responded to keep the deficit close. Even when SIU built an eight-point lead at 6:21, a three-pointer by the Aces made it a five-point game. After an Evansville bucket, the teams traded buckets to keep the difference at two.
Evansville finally broke through at 1:39, hitting a three-pointer to take a 50-49 lead. A layup after that extended their lead to three. The Salukis pulled within one, 52-51, with 36 seconds on the clock, but Evansville free throws to end the quarter made it 54-51 with 10 minutes left.
Fourth Quarter
Four points to start the fourth from Southern put the Salukis on top 55-54, but two free throws over a minute later put the Aces back on top 56-55. A Thompson layup put Southern in front again, and free throws from her as well made it a three-point game.
Free throws and a layup from the Aces gave them a 60-59 lead, which did not last long before Thompson gave SIU the lead again. The Aces hit a three to take a momentary 63-61 lead, which Allen erased with a layup.
Following a free throw put SIU in front again, the teams exchanged baskets until Evansville was up 67-66. A Nelson free throw knotted the game up, but a 4-0 run from the Aces put them on top 71-67 with two minutes to go. A free throw and basket pulled Southern within one, but four free throws from Evansville sealed the game for the Aces, handing SIU a 75-70 loss.
Up Next
Southern is right back at home on Saturday, January 10, with a 2 p.m. match versus Valparaiso.
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
Evans
SIU
FG%
.444
.391
3FG%
.278
.091
FT%
.737
.682
RB
44
41
TO
17
14
STL
4
12
Game Leaders
Pts
19
FGM
7
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
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