The SIU women’s basketball team held off Division II Maryville to win its first exhibition game of the season, 66-60. 

The Salukis made 26 of 66 field goals and collected 55 rebounds. 

SIU coach Cindy Stein said the Salukis picked Maryville to open the season because of the matchup the Saints presented.

“They’re very well coached,” Stein said. “They run every single kind of screen. They’re going to trap. They’re always going to do something defensively to force the action.”

SIU turned the ball over 19 times in the game compared to Maryville’s 14.

The Salukis jumped out to an early 6-0 lead on two baskets by junior forward Kim Nebo and a steal and layup by senior shooting guard Cartaesha Macklin, prompting a timeout from Maryville coach Chris Ellis 1:47 into the game.

The Saints kept within striking distance for most of the first half. SIU’s largest lead was 24-12. The Salukis led 34-27 at halftime. 

Macklin and Maryville senior center Alex Hillyer led both teams with 12 points at halftime. 

The Saints cut the lead to 57-54 with three minutes left in the game. SIU’s keepaway offense and defensive rebounds preserved the lead. 

Sophomore guard/forward Kylie Giebelhausen finished with 16 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Macklin scored 15 and hauled in 10 rebounds. Nebo collected 12 rebounds and scored nine points.

Hillyer finished with a game-high 22 points. Freshman forward Alex Wolf led Maryville with nine boards.

Two starters from 2014-15, senior center Dyana Pierre and senior power forward Azia Washington, sat out the game. Pierre is suspended indefinitely for a violation of team policy, and Washington is recovering from offseason knee surgery. 

The Salukis host Kentucky Wesleyan in the second and final exhibition game of the season at 2 p.m. Nov. 7 at SIU Arena. 

Thomas Donley can be reached at [email protected] or at 618-536-3307