Tight Match Ends with 81-73 Southern Loss at Indiana State

Saturday, February 21

Terre Haute, IN

1 p.m. (CST)

Southern Illinois University

9-16,6-10MVC

Indiana State

9-18,5-12MVC

Southern Ill.

Indiana St.

02/21/2026 | 3:17:00 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Peter Borkowski

TERRA HAUTE, Ind. - Southern Illinois women's basketball (9-17, 6-10) spent Saturday on the road as they visited the Sycamores of Indiana State (9-18, 5-12). After a tight affair for 30 minutes, a big fourth quarter from the Sycamores sank the Salukis, who ultimately fell 81-73.

Inside the Box Score

Alayna Kraus led all scorers in the game with 19 points.
Kayla Cooper was close to a double-double with 16 points and nine rebounds.
Tkiyah Nelson and Indya Green hit double-digit points as well with 10 and 15.

How it Happened

First Quarter
Southern quickly found a 7-0 lead thanks to two Green buckets and Cooper and-one play. Indiana State got on the board thanks to a three before free throws from Kraus bumped SIU's lead back up to six. Another Sycamore three cut that lead in half, and an old-fashion three-point play evened things up 9-9.

The Salukis retook the lead at 5:58 thanks to a Cooper jumper, and, following one free throw make from each squad, the Sycamores knotted things up again at 12-12. The teams traded baskets until it was 16-16, and Indiana State pulled back in front with a threeball under the 90-second mark.

A pair of Kraus freebies cut the deficit down to one, but a buzzer-beating Sycamore bucket gave the home squad a 21-18 lead heading into the first break.

Second Quarter
Green scored the first basket out of the second frame to make it 21-20, but Indiana State responded quickly to retake a three-point advantage. Following a Mia Gaines score, the Sycamores knocked down a three to build a four-point lead.

Southern eventually pulled back within one, 28-27, with 5:23 to play in the quarter. After exchanging buckets for a few minutes, the Sycamores' lead grew to five, 34-29, following a 4-0 run. The squads went back to trading makes until Green hit the final shot of the half to set the score at 36-35 going into halftime.

Third Quarter
With the score at 40-39 with 7:51 to play in the third, four straight Saluki points put them ahead, 43-40. Indiana State quickly tied things up with a three-pointer, and a Sycamore layup gave the host team the lead back. A trio of Indiana State free throws put them ahead by five, but Kraus hit a jumper to make it a one-possession game again.

The Sycamores rebuilt their five-point advantage before a three-pointer from Kraus and Cooper layup tied things at 50 all. A successful and-one put Indiana State in front again, but a 6-0 Saluki run made it 56-53 in favor of SIU. However, the Sycamores scored the final three points of the period off free throws to send the game to the fourth tied 56-56.

Fourth Quarter
Both teams scored a pair in the opening minute of the fourth to find a tie at 58-58, but a seven-point spree from the Sycamores gave them a 65-58 advantage. Karris Allen responded by a knocking a three down, but an 8-0 Sycamore run built them a 12-point advantage.

Green hit a jumper to make it a 10-point game, but another threeball from Indiana State put the Salukis down by 13. Southern pulled within 10 again, thanks to a Kelowna Ngoyi free throw and Cooper jumper, however a layup from Indiana State kept their lead firmly in the double-digits.

Southern did not back down though, striking next thanks to a Nelson layup off a turnover. Down by 10 with less than a minute to play in regulation, Kraus scored five straight to make it 78-73. However, Indiana State knocked a trio of free throws to close out the game and hand SIU an 81-73 loss.

Up Next
The Salukis remain on the road for their next contest, a matchup at Illinois State on Thursday, Feb. 26, at 6:30 p.m.

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