University of Northern Iowa
Southern Illinois
Panthers Come Back to Top Salukis, 74-69.
3/1/2008 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 1, 2008
CARBONDALE, Ill. -
Neither team led by more than three points until SIU (8-18, 4-12) scored six straight points to build a 19-12 lead with 10:57 left in the first half.
Nicole Clausen hit the Panthers' (12-16, 8-9) first three of the game to end the SIU run, but Erika Smith completed a conventional three-point play on the other end to keep the Saluki lead at seven, 22-15 with 9:32 on the clock.
Traci Ollendieck found Clausen cutting to the basket, and the layup pulled UNI within five. Lizzie Boeck scored on the block to make it a three-point game, 22-19 with 8:30 remaining in the period.
SIU scored five straight points to stretch its lead to 27-19. Mennen scored for the Panthers to end the SIU run, but Jasmine Gibson scored on the other end to keep the Saluki lead at eight, 29-21. Mennen and Gibson traded baskets again, and then a short jumper from Kalin pulled UNI within six, 31-25. SIU's Kaci Bailey knocked down a three to give the Salukis a 34-25 advantage with 4:32 left in the half.
Clausen made one of two free throw attempts, then Ollendieck hit a three from the left wing to narrow the gap to 34-29 in favor of SIU. Kristin Iehl found Ollendieck ahead of the pack, and the fast-break layup trimmed the Saluki lead to three, 34-31 with 2:40 left in the half.
The Salukis scored four straight points to extend their lead back to seven, 38-31. Kalin ended the SIU run with a short jump shot with 40 seconds left that brought the score to 38-33. Jayme Sweere scored with 15 seconds left to put SIU up by seven, but Kalin hit a layup with five seconds on the clock to send UNI into the break trailing 40-35.
With SIU in front 42-37, Sweere hit a layup as she was fouled. The free throw stretched the Saluki lead to 45-37. Clausen answered with a three for the Panthers within five points, 45-40, with 17:39 to play.
Mennen hit a three from the top of the key to pull the Panthers within two. The Panthers took advantage of a steal by Iehl when Clausen hit a layup as she was fouled. The free throw gave the Panthers their first lead of the game, 46-45 with 15:58 to play.
Clausen and Sweere traded baskets, and Ollendieck hit a three from the left wing to stretch the Panther advantage to 51-47 with 14:27 on the clock.
With the Panthers in front 53-49, Erin Pauk scored four straight points to tie the game at 53-53. Erin Brocka made a pair of free throws to return the lead to UNI, 55-53 with 12:15 to play.
Ollendieck hit her third three of the game at 10:15, pushing the Panther lead to 58-53. Pauk hit a jumper to pull the Salukis within three, but Brocka hit a three from the top of the key to give the Panthers a 61-55 lead with 6:50 on the clock.
After a Cortney Sales made a free throw for SIU, Mennen scored on the block to stretch the UNI lead to seven, 63-56. SIU scored six straight points to pull within one, 63-62 with 3:50 to play.
Kalin scored eight straight points for the Panthers, and UNI was able to build a 71-65 lead with 1:17 on the clock. Clausen made one of two free throws to put UNI in front 72-65 with just 22 seconds left.
Sweere was fouled with 10 seconds remaining, and she made the first. SIU was able to collect the rebound when she missed the second try, and Sweere connected from three-point range to pull the Salukis within three, 72-69 with eight seconds to play.
SIU sent Kalin to the line, and the freshman hit both attempts to seal the win for the Panthers.
The Panthers shot 30-of-64 (47 percent) from the floor, including 7-of-23 (30 percent) from three-point range. UNI finished 7-of-9 (78 percent) from the free-throw line.
SIU shot 28-of-64 (44 percent) from the floor including, 3-of-14 (21 percent) from behind the arc. The Salukis finished 10-of-17 from the free-throw line.
The Panthers return to action on Saturday, March 8, when they play at Bradley in the regular-season finale.
