TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Sparked by 17 points from sophomore Brittany Schoen, the Indiana State women's basketball team posted a 63-51 win over Southern Illinois on Saturday in front of 3,670 fans at Hulman Center. With its second straight conference victory, ISU improves to 11-7 (2-5 MVC) on the season.
The Sycamores were led offensively by Schoen, whose 17 points and five 3-pointers both matched career highs. Junior Kelsey Cooley also reached double figures with 11 points and added a game-leading nine rebounds.
SIU's Christine Presswood totaled 20 points, while Teri Oliver added 17 of her own. The Salukis' top rebounder was Katrina Swingler with seven boards.
After opening the game with a four-point deficit to Southern Illinois, the Sycamores went on a 10-point run sparked by four from freshman Taylor Whitley and a 3-pointer by Schoen. Sophomore Shannon Thomas went inside for a layup, followed by a trey and a shot inside from senior Kelsey Luna, extending the lead to 23-12. After Teri Oliver countered with three points, Schoen hit another triple and two free throws. Cooley poured in a basket and Schoen drained another shot from downtown, going up by 15.
Presswood responded with a pair of threes of her own, and LaToya Hambrick banked in two charity shots to bring the Salukis within six. Luna then drove inside for two, and Presswood made her mark again with a jumper in the final seconds of the half. Led by Schoen's 11 first-half points, Indiana State went into the locker room with a 35-29 lead.
Cooley came out shooting to open the second half, connecting on back-to-back baskets, along with Mattox, who hit a shot in the paint to go up 41-31. Whitley, Mattox and Schoen struck on four consecutive 3-pointers to make it 55-37. Mattox then chipped in a free throw to give the Sycamores their widest lead of the day at 19 with four minutes remaining. Whitley added two more points, and Thomas sunk two of her own, giving ISU a final score of 63-51.
Indiana State returns to action next week with a road swing with Bradley and Northern Iowa. The Sycamores face Bradley on Thursday, Jan. 28 at 8:05 p.m. (ET) in Peoria, Ill.
