Despite missing seven of 10 free throws in the closing minutes, the SIUC women’s basketball team defeated the University of Memphis Tuesday night at the SIU Arena.

Freshman guards Courtney Smith and Terica Hathaway sunk three of the 10 freebies to preserve the Salukis’ 68-65 victory.

As a team, SIUC was 17-for-34 from the foul line.

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That was a big win for the Missouri Valley (Conference), SIUC coach Cindy Scott said. To beat the preseason pick in Conference USA bodes well for our conference.

The win improved the Salukis’ record to 1-1 after opening the regular season with an 83-69 loss to Northwestern University in the preseason NIT in Evanston Friday.

Smith, who had 12 points in the contest, said the victory is a sign of things to come for the Salukis.

The preseason is over with, and we learned from it, Smith said. This is the official beginning of the season.

Memphis opened its biggest lead of the game at 41-34 with just under 15 minutes remaining in the second half. Scott removed senior center Theia Hudson from the lineup and replaced her with freshman Maria Niebrugge.

Niebrugge responded by hitting all three of her second-half field goals on her way to 12 points off the bench.

We needed to keep Maria in the game because she was doing so well for us, Scott said. I thought Maria was a key, key for us.

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Memphis, who was without its top player and preseason Conference USA Player of the Year candidate Tamika Whitmore, was out of the game until the end. The Lady Tigers received a 27-point night from senior forward LaTonya Johnson, including five three-point field goals.

After the game, Scott had great praise for the efforts of Johnson.

She’s (Johnson) a great player, Scott said. She went outside and hit a couple of threes against us, and (she) is probably the best player in their conference.

Johnson hit her fifth trey of the game with the shot clock winding down to tie the score at 65-65. But on the next trip down the floor, Johnson took the bench after committing her fifth foul of the game.

Hathaway was fouled by Johnson on a driving layup and proceeded to hit one of two free throws to put the Salukis ahead for good 66-65.

Ahead 68-65, Saluki senior point guard Beth Hasheider sealed the game by taking a charge on Memphis guard Yolanda Reed.

Hasheider did not have a spectacular night offensively, but Scott said she did an excellent job of handling the Memphis full-court press.

Beth played an unbelievable game, Scott said. I think she played 39 1/2 minutes and had a lot of pressure on her tonight.

The Salukis will have nine days to prepare for the next weekend’s San Juan Shootout, which is Nov. 27-30 in Puerto Rico.