March 13, 2008

By Shalae Patrick
www.siusalukis.com

Box Score -- Photo Gallery

ST. CHARLES, Mo. - The Southern Illinois women's basketball team (10-19) avenged two regular-season losses to Bradley (12-18) Thursday night, taking the opening game of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, 65-54, in Family Arena.

The Salukis snapped a six-game tournament losing streak dating back to 1997, the last time SIU won an opening-round game. They also picked up their 10th win of the season, reaching double-digit victories for the third-straight season, the first time since 1996, 1997 and 1998.

Jasmine Gibson hit the first bucket of the game just over 30 seconds into the contest. The Braves answered with their own jumper to tie it up.

The Salukis went back up by two before the Braves hit two straight buckets to pull ahead of the first time of the game, 6-4, at the 17:19 mark.

A 9-to-0 run for Southern put the team up seven, 13-6, with 13:31 left in the first half. The Salukis would go up by as many as nine before the Braves would counter with their own run, a 10-to-0 effort to go back up one, 24-23, with 5:08 left in the period.

The Salukis closed out the half with 10-to-3 run to take a six-point advantage, 33-27, into the locker room at the half.

The Braves would come within two to open the second half of play before the Salukis shut them down for nearly six minutes to take a commanding lead that would last the rest of the game.

Along with Gibson's team-high 17 points, the junior added 11 rebounds. Erin Pauk put up 12 points, including a perfect 2-of-2 from beyond the 3-point line and 4-of-4 from the charity stripe.

Erica Smith and Ellen Young added 11 and 10 points respectively, the final two Salukis to reach double-digits.

Devyn Flanagan added a game-high 19 points for the Braves, while Sonya Harris pitched in 15 points and 12 boards.

The Salukis face No. 1 seed Illinois State Friday at 12:05 p.m. in Family Arena.