Feb. 16, 2007

By Shalae Schulte
www.siusalukis.com

Box Score

DES MOINES, Iowa - The Southern Illinois women's basketball team survived a second-half scoring drought and hit clutch free throws down the stretch to pick up its fourth-straight victory over Drake, 49-45, on the road in Missouri Valley Conference play Friday night in the Knapp Center.

The win helped the Salukis climb to 15-9 overall and 12-2 in league play, alone at the top of the MVC. The Bulldogs dropped to 8-15 on the season and 3-10 in conference play.

The game was tied seven times in the first half, even for the final time at 23-23 with 1:11 left to play in the period. SIU pulled ahead on a jumper by Carlai Moore with a minute before the break, taking a 27-23 lead into the locker room at the half.

Southern led the entire second period, up by as many as eight, 37-29, with 12:23 left in the game. The Salukis were held scoreless for nearly eight minutes while the Bulldogs mounted a comeback.

Drake scored seven unanswered points to pull within one, 37-36, before an Erica Smith three with 4:37 left in the game helped Southern extend its lead.

SIU hit 5-of-6 clutch free throws in the final 30 seconds of the game to put the contest out of reach for the Bulldogs. Drake's Ashleigh Brady hit a three at the buzzer, but it wasn't enough.

Carlai Moore, Jayme Sweere and Jasmine Gibson each chipped in a game-high 12 points for the Salukis. Sweere and Gibson added five rebounds each, while Moore added four. Gibson came off the bench to also record two steals.

Dana Olsen chipped in a game-high six boards to go with four points and a block for SIU.

For just the fourth time this season, Southern was held under 40 percent from the field, 38.8 percent (19-of-49).

SIU picked up its third conference sweep of the year, also sweeping UNI and Bradley, marking the first time since 1996 that the Salukis have swept at least three conference opponents.

The Salukis wrap up the final road swing of the regular season at Creighton Sunday for a 3:05 p.m. CST tip-off.