The Redbird women fall to 0-12 on the season with a 65-56 loss to SIU. (goredbirds.com)
By ISU Sports Information.
NORMAL, Ill. – Southern Illinois defeated Illinois State in the Redbirds’ Missouri Valley Conference opener, 65-56, Sunday at Redbird Arena. Stekara Hall led the Redbirds with 17 points and Octavia Crump and Katy Winge also tallied double figures, with 14 and 12, respectively. It was not enough though, as Southern Illinois converted its free throws down the stretch, and handed ISU its 12th-straight loss.
Crump scored eight points in the first eight minutes of the first half to help ISU to its largest lead of the season, a 13-point advantage. However, a 14-0 run by the Salukis erased the ISU lead as Southern took a 44-43 lead with 6:36 to play.
Hall broke the run with a free throw to tie the game. Southern would then take a lead they did not relinquish, going up by as many as 11 points.
The day got off to a solid start after the opening tip. After two scoreless minutes to start the game, Southern went on an 8-0 run over the course of 52 seconds to take an early 8-1 advantage. However, the Redbirds forced six SIU turnovers and went on their own 16-0 run over the next 10:11 to take a 19-13 lead.
ISU’s dominance in the paint carried them through the first half as 18 of its 25 points came inside the paint. In contrast, SIU was able to score just two of its 18 points in the paint. The Salukis went almost 12 minutes without a point in the first half. During that time, ISU was able to build a six-point lead.
The Redbirds’ lead would grow to seven before the break as ISU took a 25-18 lead to the locker room. It was the first time this season that ISU led at halftime. SIU shot just 6-for-27 in the first half and ISU finished the half on a 22-5 run.
Crump recorded the sixth double-double of her career and the second of the season with 13 rebounds to go along with her 14 points. Statistically, the game was played fairly even. SIU held a slight rebounding advantage, 42-40, and turnovers, 17-16. Both teams also made 21 field goals.
However, SIU made five more free throws. ISU, a team that normally shoots over 13 3-pointers per game, went just 1-for-6 from deep. In addition, only three of ISU’s 21 baskets were assisted. The sizable points in the paint advantage that ISU held in the first half decreased throughout the second 20 minutes. At the final buzzer, ISU had outscored SIU in the paint 32-24.
With the loss, ISU falls to 0-12 and wraps up a six-game home stand. They will now travel to Drake for a Friday night game in Des Moines, Iowa. It will be the first time since Nov. 29 that the Redbirds have played on the road. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m
