Women’s Basketball recap 15

Two minutes into the second half and down by 10, it looked like the same lackluster first half performance of the SIUC women’s basketball team would continue against Murray State University. But O’Desha Proctor stole the game.

After Proctor’s steal, the Salukis went on a 6-0 spurt that eventually turned into a 38-23 run to cap a 61-53 win against the Murray State University Racers Wednesday night.

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Proctor had four steals in the game and poured in 15 points to give the Salukis the spark they needed to overcome the Racers’ first half 30-23 lead. Proctor also went 9-for-10 from the free throw line.

Women’s head coach Cindy Scott said Proctor’s performance was the biggest reason the Salukis came back to win the game.

I thought Proctor played an outstanding second half, Scott said. She probably was the key factor in enabling to come away this win. She also did a great job defensively and on the boards on the defensive end.

The Salukis also got a boost from freshman guard Terica Hathaway, who was able to lob the ball to Hudson underneath the basket. She also put up 10 points of her own.

With the win, the Salukis move to 3-3 on the season. SIUC will be idle for 10 days before taking on the Tennessee Tech University Dec. 13.

In the first half, the Salukis shot a mere 39 percent from the field and were 0-for-3 the free throw line. The Salukis turned the ball over 24 times in the game, and most of those turnovers came before they could even get a shot off.

Scott said her Salukis lost rebounds to the Racers and sometimes their own teammates caused problems with potential rebounds.

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I have never seen us have such a case of fumbleitis, Scott said. I don’t know how many rebounds we went up strong and then one of our teammates was going up strong and knocked the ball out of our hands. I don’t think we played a very intelligent basketball game particularly in the first half.

One reason the team had trouble rebounding was because centers Melaniece Bardley and Theia Hudson both fouled out in the last six minutes of the contest. But both Bardley and Hudson managed to pull down nine boards apiece before fouling out.

Bardley made five of 10 field goals for 11 points, but she was limited offensively by her early foul trouble. Scott said Bardley needs to find her niche because she has the potential to be one of the best post players in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Mel still has not found her stride, Scott said. I think she is playing a little frustrated right now. We’ve got her back on track and playing up to her potential because when she and Theia are both on track. That combination inside is very difficult for anyone to stop.

Scott said part of the frustration for Bardley and the rest of the team may have come from being tired. But the sloppy play in the first half was inexcusable because the team should have controlled both halves of the game.

I don’t really think we can blame fatigue, Scott said. We made mental mistakes. We just have to be cleaner with the basketball in our hands.

The Salukis play the University of Tennessee Tech on the road at 7 p.m. Dec. 13.