Jan. 18, 2007

By Shalae Schulte
www.siusalukis.com

Box Score

CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois women's basketball team held Creighton to 17 second-half points and the Jays lowest point total of the season to pick up the Salukis' fourth straight win, 63-43, over the Bluejays in Missouri Valley Conference play Thursday night.

The win marks the first time since the 1996-97 season that the Salukis won four in a row.

The win puts Southern at 10-8 on the season, matching last season's win total, and 6-1 in league play, still in second place in the MVC.

The lead changed hands five times in the first half, Southern squeaking out a one-point lead (27-26) heading into the locker room at halftime on an Erin Pauk three with seven seconds left in the period.

The Salukis came out of the locker room a different team, going on a 15-2 run to start the half.

With 3:08 left in the game a Sweere jumper put Southern up, 63-38, giving the Salukis their largest lead of the game.

"I thought our execution and focus was much better in the second half," Saluki head coach Dana Eikenberg said. "They came back and fought. They understood the things we needed to adjust. One, our energy, and two, addressing the rebounding situation."

The Jays won the boards in the first half, 19-18, but SIU won nearly everything in the second out-shooting (45 percent to 24 percent) and out-rebounding (26-to-17) CU, holding them to just six field goals in the half.

"Our theory all year has been to just disrupt their options," Eikenberg added, "I'm proud of them, it was a very good second half for this team."

The Salukis put four starters in double figures for the second-straight game, led by 17 from Jayme Sweere. The reigning MVC Player of the Week added seven boards and two assists and a steal on the night.

Sophomore point guard Erica Smith chipped in the first double-double of her career with 11 points and a game-high 10 boards, adding five steals a block and assist.

Megan Neuvirth came of the bench to lead Creighton with 10 points, six rebounds and three steals. Michelle Kaus and Ally Thrall chipped in eight points each for the Jays.

SIU will face Drake (5-11, 0-6 MVC) Saturday for a 2:05 p.m. tip-off.