March 14, 2008

By Shalae Patrick
www.siusalukis.com

Box Score -- Photo Gallery

ST. CHARLES, Mo. - Southern Illinois' Cortney Sales went out on a career game Thursday. The senior put up a personal-best 22 points and 11 rebounds, but couldn't put the Salukis (10-20) on top as they fell in the second round of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament against No. 1 seed Illinois State (24-6) Friday afternoon in Family Arena, 77-65.

The Salukis led by as many as 10 points with just over 12 minutes to play, but couldn't overcome 20 second-half points from MVC Player of the Year Kristi Cirone, who helped her team shoot 61.5 percent (16-of-26) in the period to closeout the game.

SIU held its largest lead of 10 at the 12:37 mark before ILS turned it around to go on a 14-to-4 run to pull ahead and take the lead for good.

Along with Sales, fellow senior Jayme Sweere pitched in 14 points, six rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal. Freshman Ellen Young came off the bench for 11 points and four assists.

Cirone finished with a game-high 27 points for the Redbirds, while Shala Jackson came off the bench for 15. Maggie Krick and Ashleen Bracey finished with 14 and 11 repectively.

The Salukis were out-shot from beyond the arc for just the seventh time this season.

SIU closes out the season with a 10-20 record overall and a 5-13 mark in the Missouri Valley Conference for ninth place.

Erica Smith and Ellen Young earned post-season accolades for the Salukis, Smith a all-defensive team member and Young tabbed to the all-freshman team. Smith, along with Sweere and Erin Pauk were named MVC scholar-athletes.

Sweere wraps up her three-year career with 1,192 points, 11th all-time at SIU. She also added 506 blocks, just the 14th athlete in program history to record over 1,000 points and 500 rebounds. Pauk will wrap up her career with a 81.1 free throw percentage, ranking second all-time at SIU. The duo both rank in the top-10 in 3-point percentage as well.