The Dawgs were off to a slow start in Banterra this evening when the Racers took a 14-0 lead in the beginning of the first quarter. 

Freshman Maddy Saracco put the Dawgs on the board with 5:28 left in the quarter with a second-chance jumper. The first quarter ended 22-7 Racers on top. 

Southern Illinois came out of the break looking to get back into the game. After a foul by the Racers on an offensive rebound, Jaidynn Mason scored the first point of the quarter for the Dawgs with a made free throw. 

The Salukis outscored the Racers 19-13 in the second quarter, but that wasn’t enough to knock them off their lead. The first half ended with the Dawgs trailing behind by 9 with a score of 35-26.

Coming out of the half, Southern was looking to close the gap but fell short again ending the quarter 54-47.

The Dawgs were on a run in the final quarter of the matchup, closing in on Murray State with 1:45 left in the quarter making the score 75-70 with a three point jumper by Quierra Love. Even with shots made by Laniah Randle and Love in the last minute of the game, the Dawgs fell short to the Racers. 

Murray State tallied 17 offensive rebounds and 31 defensive rebounds that contributed to their 81-74 win over the Salukis. 

Randle led the Salukis once again with 20 points, Love followed with 17 and Seairra Hughes tallied 16 points. 

“I’m impressed with our culture but I want it for our kids so bad, they’re so close, they’re battle tested,” Head Coach Kelly Bond-White said in her post game conference. 

The Dawgs will be back in action Feb. 11 in the Banterra Center to take on the Belmont Bruins  at 1 p.m.

News Editor Joei Younker can be reached at [email protected].

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