Banner hanging and big wins

By Joei Younker, Sports Reporter|January 6, 2023

Promise Taylor (55) wins the ball over for the Salukis in the tip-off against Isis Fitch (24) of Bradley University Jan. 5, 2023 at the Banterra Center in Carbondale Ill.

The Salukis tallied their first win of the new year against Bradley, 83-65, sending the Braves home with a conference loss.

Salukis Women’s Basketball add two additional banners to the ceiling of the arena to commemorate their successful 2022 season Jan. 5, 2022 at the Banterra Center in Carbondale Ill. (Lylee Gibbs @lyleegibbsphotography)

Along with the win, the 2021-21 women’s basketball team was honored with the dropping of their Missouri Valley Conference Championship banner, a WNIT appearance banner, and new head coach Kelly Bond-White was honored with the game ball from her first win as a Saluki.

In her season preview, Coach Bond talked about how critical it was for her team to understand what last years team accomplished and to build off of that, and that is exactly what they are doing.

Not only did the Dawgs come out on top last year, they’re coming out on top starting 3-0 in conference play this season, having their best conference start in almost five years.

60 of Southern Illinois 83 points were scored in the paint which helped them maintain the lead along with shooting 34-62 from field goal range and 11-18 from the line, compared to only 22 by the Braves.

The Salukis were led by sophomore forward Laniah Randle with her second double double of the season with 25 points and 11 rebounds. Ashley Jones followed with 20 points and one rebound, Sherma Williams has 13 points and three rebounds, and junior center, Promise Taylor had 11 points and nine rebounds.