Southern Illinois News

Big fourth quarter lifts Women’s Basketball past Indiana State, 79-64

Southern Illinois blew open a tight game in the fourth quarter to roll past Indiana State, 79-64, at the Banterra Center on Thursday night.

Trailing by two points to start the fourth quarter, the Salukis (10-16, 7-10) opened the final frame on a 14-2 run and out-scored ISU, 27-10, in the period. Ashley Jones sparked the run with seven of her game-high 20 points during the first three minutes of the final frame. 

Southern trailed the Sycamores (10-16, 5-12) at the end of each of the first three quarters, although the lead changed hands in a back-and-forth game 18 times, plus eight ties.

By the fourth quarter, however, SIU's pressure defense and team speed wore down Indiana State. ISU made just two field goals in the final 10 minutes and committed nine of its 17 turnovers in the fourth. 

"I came here to bring that style of play," said SIU head coach Kelly Bond-White. "That's what I thought was missing from this league, when I looked at why I wanted to come here, and style of play, just to have controlled chaos and get people playing at a speed they don't want to play at."

Offensively, the Salukis attacked ISU's zone defense inside and out. They had a 38-32 advantage in points in the paint, and Aja Holmes provided a huge lift off the bench with 16 points, including 4-of-8 shots from outside the arc. 

"I'm just working on being consistent with my shot and getting to the rim more," said Holmes, who had her conference-best scoring output. "I feel like it's something that you have to dig deep to find." 

The Salukis were also boosted by the return of 6-foot-2 forward Tamara Nard, who has missed the last three weeks due to injury. She had four points, four rebounds and three blocks in 20 minutes. 

"When she came back, she was hungry," Bond-White said. "That's the way she looked in practice. She was all over the place, her energy went to a different level."

With the win, Southern snapped a two-game losing streak as it heads into Senior Day on Saturday versus Evansville. 

"I've really been soul-searching and talking to God about the group," Bond-White said. "I think we're ok, sometimes, with being average, and there's greatness in these young ladies. Tonight let me know that consistency is right around the corner." 

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