No shocker really

By Gus Bode

The SIU women’s basketball team hadn’t won a game this season when it scored less than 70 points until Thursday night’s Missouri Valley Conference tilt with Wichita State.

The Salukis (6-7, 2-1 MVC) used a 23-point, 16-rebound performance from senior guard Jayme Sweere as they held off the Shockers (6-9, 0-3 MVC) 66-61 at Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kan.

SIU dominated Wichita State early on and took a 41-25 lead into halftime but the Shockers shot 41.7 percent in the second half and senior forward Kiki Stephens’ jumper cut the lead to three with 1:35 left in the game.

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But on the ensuing possession, Sweere’s three-pointer sealed the win for the Salukis.

The dagger thrown by Sweere locked down SIU’s second road win this season despite a brutal second half offensive output.

The Salukis shot just 36.8 percent from the field in the game despite shooting 53 percent in the first half.

SIU also turned the ball over 13 times in the game.

But perhaps the most important telling stat of the game was the three-point shooting average for each team.

The Salukis shot 37.4 percent from beyond the arc and held Wichita State without a three-point field goal throughout the entire game.

The Shockers finished 0-for-6 from behind the line.

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Freshman guard Tanaeya Worden pitched in 17 points and helped fill the void left by injured junior forward Jasmine Gibson.

Stephens led Wichita State with 16 points while senior guard Kyrie Kinder chipped in 15 points.

SIU swept the season series with Wichita State in the 2006-07 season and can sweep the Shockers again this season with a win in Carbondale Feb. 10.

The Salukis will travel to Missouri State to take on the Bears Saturday at 2:05 P.M.

Matt Hartwig can be reached at [email protected]

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