The crowd at Saturday’s SIUC women’s basketball game witnessed just why Saluki guards Kasia McClendon and Nikki Gilmore were worthy of pre-game honors at SIU Arena Saturday afternoon.

McClendon and Gilmore combined for 23 of SIUC’s 47 second half points to help pace the Salukis to an 84-54 victory over the University of Northern Iowa.

To the cheer of Saturday’s home crowd, McClendon was recognized as SIUC’s all-time steal leader with 207, while Gilmore was recognized as only the 14th player in SIUC history to score 1000 points.

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Unsurprisingly, McClendon garnered eight steals on the evening while Gilmore led the Salukis in scoring with 18 points.

Saturday’s contest marks the 8th straight time that Gilmore has scored in double figures. McClendon has averaged 6 steals in her last three games.

Northern Iowa coach Tony DiCecco said this year’s Saluki squad is

perhaps the best he has witnessed as a coach.

SIUC is a great basketball team, a frustrated DiCecco said. They have great quickness. They have the ability to take the ball to the glass at anytime in the game. When they turn up their defense they can take things totally away from a team.

I honestly believe this is as good a Southern team as I have seen.

By the break, SIUC only led by two, 37-35. However, the quickness of McClendon and Gilmore took over for SIUC in the second-half, propelling the Salukis to a 9-0 scoring run and a 16-point lead a lead from which the Panthers were unable to recover from.

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I did think those two kids (McClendon, Gilmore) worked real well, DiCecco said. They complimented each other. Their distribution was very, very good.

Saluki coach Cindy Scott said SIUC is more or less an unstoppable force when Gilmore and McClendon are on top of their game as they were Saturday.

I thought it was very appropriate that we honor Kasia and Nikki before the game, Scott said. They are two great players and when they are on at the same time, our club is really very difficult to beat.

It’s fun to watch them because they are both so talented.

With Saturday’s triumph, SIUC took over sole posession of second place in the Valley with a mark of 12-2, while Northern Iowa continues to struggle at 4-10 in conference action.

Complimenting a 44 percent shooting performance from the field, SIUC once again dominated the glass by out rebounding the Panthers 49-34.

Following a commanding glass attack against Bradley last week, Scott said she has been pleased with SIUC’s attack on the boards lately.

We out rebounded them by 15 and I think that has been one of the biggest things that we have turned around, Scott said.

Gilmore said McClendon’s performance is what propelled the Salukis on to another victory.

I think Kasia’s defense helped us, Gilmore said. When things go well for us we feed off of it and build on the positive.

The Salukis take to the road once again this week when they battle Illinois State on Thursday. Tip-off time is 7:00 p.m.