March 8, 2008

By Shalae Patrick
www.siusalukis.com

Box Score

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Indiana State's Laura Rudolphi and Angela Phillips combined for 57 of the Sycamores' 77 points in their final regular season home game to overcome Southern Illinois in the second half, 77-68, in the Missouri Valley Conference finale Saturday afternoon.

The Salukis led by four points, 32-28, at the half, only to be out-scored 49 to 36 in the final 20 minutes. Foul trouble plagued the Dawgs in the second half, SIU called for 17 fouls to the Sycamore's six, sending the Trees to the line 22 times, all in that period. INS was in the bonus within the first seven and a half minutes.

SIU brought the game within two, 70-68 with 1:22 left to play on a Jayme Sweere 3-pointer, before being held scoreless the remainder of the game. The Sycamores scored seven unanswered points to run out the clock, including five of six free throws.

For just the seventh time this season, the Salukis out-rebounded their opponents, 38 to 35, the discrepancy on the offensive end, 10 to seven.

Sweere finished with a team-high 22 points, nine rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steal in her own regular season finale for the Salukis, while Ellen Young added 10 points, four boards and four assists off the bench.

Erica Smith, Erin Pauk and Cortney Sales chipped in eight points each for SIU. Smith added eight boards and four assists.

Rudolphi led the Sycamores with a season-high 34 points, eight boards, while Phillips added 23 points and six assists.

The Salukis will travel to St. Charles, Mo. for the Missouri Valley Conference tournament March 13-16. SIU will be the No. 9 seed, taking on No. 8 seed Bradley, Thursday at 6 p.m. in Family Arena.