MOLINE, Ill. – For three quarters Friday afternoon, it seemed as if Indiana State could do no wrong. Then the Sycamores' grip on the game slowly began to slip away.
 
Indiana State (11-19) was stunned as a 16-point fourth quarter lead evaporated in a heartbreaking 69-67 loss to Southern Illinois (17-13) in the quarterfinals of the 2018 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
 
There was almost elation with a chance for last-second heroics. Southern Illinois, leading by only one, missed three of four free throws in the final 14 seconds. The Sycamores had a chance to win or tie the game in the final moments.
 
But the Salukis defense made penetration into the paint all but impossible and a pair of 3-pointers refused to fall for Indiana State. That capped a fourth quarter that was in stark contrast to the rest of the game.
 
"I told our team afterwards that we've come a long way this season," Indiana State Interim Head Coach Josh Keister said. "As much as it hurts right now, we're not going to let one quarter define our season."
 
For the first 30 minutes, the Trees were on fire. Indiana State was 46.5 percent from the field through three quarters, well above their 35.7 percent season average. ISU had just come off its highest scoring single quarter of the season after putting in 27 points in the third period.
 
But the hot shooting cooled. Mistakes became amplified.
 
"We felt like if we could get a good push to start the fourth quarter, keep the lead, then we would be okay," explained Keister. "But we come out, go for a steal and they hit a three. They end up scoring five points within the first minute."
 
Makenzie Silvey hit a three and then Kylie Giebelhausen got a tip-in within the first 25 seconds in the quarter. SIU would go 11-0 run that included consecutive 3-pointers by Giebelhausen and Nicole Martin. The Salukis took their first lead of the game with a layup by Martin with three minutes remaining, a lead they would not let slip away.
 
Giebelhausen would lead all scorers with 20 points, 14 of which came in the final quarter. Abby Brockmeyer, Martin and Silvey each scored 11 points.
 
Ashley Taia led Indiana State with 13 points in her final collegiate game while Alexis Delgado and Tierra Webb each scored 11. Wendi Bibbins came close to a double-double, finishing the game with nine points and nine rebounds.
 
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