The Saluki Women’s basketball team hosted the Sycamores of Indiana State University on Thursday, Jan. 22. Coming off an exciting home victory against the UIC Flames, the Dawgs looked to add another win to the homestand. After a competitive and passionate matchup between two Missouri Valley Conference teams, the Salukis would walk away with a win. The 86-74 victory marked the first time in two seasons that SIU has won back-to-back games.

The Sycamores won the tipoff and began the contest with possession. The score fluctuated back and forth before the Salukis were able to sprint out to an 8-point run. To go along with SIU’s efficient shooting, guard Alayna Kraus posted 10 points of her own, fueling a strong first quarter for the Dawgs. The Salukis tallied two blocks and a steal, allowing them to finish the first quarter with a 24-19 lead. 

“Trusting my shot, knowing not to rush for it, and knowing that as the game goes on, it will come to me… that’s one thing that coach always tells me,” Kraus said.

Coming into the second quarter, the Salukis began to play with a pace that the Sycamores faltered to match. SIU, capitalizing on multiple Indiana State mistakes, would outmatch the opponents in points, rebounds and assists. Along with the dominant offensive performance, the Salukis were thriving on the other end of the court with three steals and 11 rebounds. The remarkable quarter, highlighted by 9 points from guard Kayla Cooper, left the Salukis feeling good going into halftime. The score at the conclusion of the quarter was 51-30 SIU.

“We were just passing the ball, we were making shots, we were celebrating each other on both the offensive and defensive end,” Cooper said.

Facing a 21-point deficit, the Sycamores would need to come out with a new plan of attack to gain some ground. The third quarter marked a fresh start for Indiana State as they began to string points together and chip away at the SIU lead. The shots that were falling for the Salukis did not carry over to the third quarter as they shot 3-12 from the field and 7-14 from the free-throw line. The Sycamores succeeded in shrinking the differential, but the Dawgs still led at the end of the third by a score of 64-51.

The fourth quarter was underway, and the Sycamores looked determined to swipe the game out of the Salukis’ hands. SIU started to get its mojo back and played back and forth with Indiana State. Struggles from the free-throw line persisted, and the Sycamores were creeping up, getting as close as within 7 points of SIU. The gritty Dawgs did not give up, and forward Indya Green dropped in some late buckets to secure a Saluki victory, 86-74.

“Our kids had fun out there today. You saw a lot of high fives, even when (Indiana State) was making a run, you saw some kids getting excited,” head coach Kelly Bond-White said.

With this win, SIU sits at 6-12 overall and has a record of 3-6 in MVC games. Indiana State also lands at 6-12, but possesses a 2-6 record in conference play. The Salukis take to the court next on Thursday, Jan. 29, in Murray, Kentucky, to face off against the dominant Racers of Murray State University.

Sports Reporter Noah Petschke can be reached at [email protected]. Sports Reporter Leo Castro can be reached at [email protected]. 

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