Bonnie Ryan
GoSycamores.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Four players in double-figure scoring carried the Indiana State women's basketball team to a 70-62 win over Southern Illinois in front of 404 fans at SIU Arena on Thursday night. With their second straight victory and first road win of the Missouri Valley slate, the Sycamores improve to 13-11 (4-9 MVC) before taking aim at Evansville this weekend.
Senior Kelsey Luna led ISU with 19 points, 17 of which came in the final six minutes of the ballgame, as well as eight rebounds. The St. Louis, Mo., native finished 6-for-12 from the field and 6-for-7 from the free throw line. In addition, Luna cemented her name in the Sycamore record books, moving into sole possession of 10th place on the all-time scoring charts with 1,336 points over her four-year career.
Sophomore Shannon Thomas also had a stellar night with her fourth double-double of the season on 10 points and 13 boards. She shot 3-for-5 and was a perfect 4-for-4 from the charity stripe and also had a pair of blocks. Sophomore Brittany Schoen added 12 points on a pair of 3-pointers and her own 4-for-4 free throw performance, while freshman Taylor Whitley totaled 11 points.
Junior Kelsie Cooley opened Indiana State's scoring with four points, and Whitley and Luna added a bucket apiece. Mattox hit a 3-pointer and after SIU tied it at 11, the Salukis went on a 9-4 run to go up by five. A pair of Cooley free throws chipped away at the deficit, and Schoen knocked in five points to put the Sycamores up at 22-20. Whitley then went on a six-point tear and Thomas dropped in four straight free throws to lead a 14-4 scoring effort. A final-minute basket by freshman Moriah Hodge gave ISU a 34-24 lead to cap the half.
In the second stanza, Schoen came out shooting with a 3-pointer and a pair of charity shots to put the Sycamores out front by 15. Mattox hit a layup to keep a double-figure lead, but eight points by SIU's Stephany Neptune cut the lead to four.
Luna, who was previously limited to just two points in the first half, then took over for Indiana State, scoring 17 points in just over six minutes. The senior hit four consecutive shots and a 3-pointer, keeping her team ahead by seven. Coupled with three points from Whitley, Luna then banked in six free throws, and Schoen added two of her own, extending the lead to 10. Despite a triple from SIU's Teri Oliver, freshman Krista Smith hit the final free throw of the game with five seconds remaining to give the Sycamores a 70-62 win.
"This was a wonderful team win," Assistant Coach Clint Weddle said. "That was as good a second half of basketball to watch as I could imagine. Shot after shot, stop after stop - a lot of players were making great plays, for both teams. That was a high-quality basketball game tonight, and I'm very glad that our players were able to come out on top."
Southern Illinois also had four players in double figures: Oliver (14), Neptune (14), Christine Presswood (13) and Katrina Swingler (10). Neptune had her own double-double with her 14 points and 11 rebounds, as well as a game-leading eight assists, a block and a steal.
Indiana State returns to action against Evansville on Saturday, Feb. 20. Tipoff is set for 3:05 p.m. (ET) in Evansville, Ind.
