DE Assistant Sports Editor

The SIUC women’s basketball team edged one step closer to catching top-ranked Southwest Missouri State and Illinois State in the Missouri Valley Conference race Saturday night with a 83-59 romp over the University of Northern Iowa.

The victory improves the Saluki record to 7-7 overall and 5-1 in conference play. SIUC is currently in third place in the MVC.

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The Salukis took charge of the contest as soon as they stepped into the UNI-Dome. The squad dominated the paint, out rebounding UNI 13-3 early in the first half.

SIUC jumped out to an 12-7 lead behind a balanced inside offensive attack.

Just under two minutes into the game, senior forward Heather Slater converted a three-point play to get things rolling.

From that point on, the Salukis never looked back. Forward Christel Jefferson powered the squad with five points in under two minutes, and junior center Tiffany Spencer also came on strong, scoring a quick four points.

UNI continued to take a beating inside the paint at the end of the first half. Jefferson remained unstoppable on offense, scoring four more points as the final seconds of the first half ticked off the clock.

She posted her fifth double-double of the season, scoring 17 points and picking up 12 rebounds. Eleven of Jefferson’s points came in the first half.

Spencer went four-for-five from the field in the game, for 10 points, and scored in double-figures for the first time this season.

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Freshman forward O’Desha Proctor and guard Nikki Gilmore extended SIUC’s lead to 17, 44-27, by sinking back-to-back jumpers as time expired.

The Salukis did not cool off at intermission, and came out firing at the start of the second period.

Four points by guard Kasia McClendon, two inside buckets from Jefferson and a layup by freshman forward Heather Whalin helped build SIUC’s lead to 26 with just over 15 minutes left in regulation.

McClendon had 11 points, six rebounds and four steals in the game.

The Saluki bench came out and held the lead. Junior forward Niki Washington chipped in two points, freshman forward-center Branda Anderson put in a layup and Whalin continued to score, hitting three free throws down the stretch.

Two Proctor jump shots and a free throw by sophomore Beth Hasheider sealed the Panther’s fate.

SIUC women’s basketball coach Cindy Scott said her squad’s ability to score inside was the key factor in the contest.

We were really able to dominate inside in this game, and that was the difference, she said. Both Theia Hudson and Christel Jefferson were able to score well inside. Spencer had a great game. We were really able to get the ball down deep inside and take advantage of that.

Scott also said she was pleased with how the team approached the game and especially with McClendon’s ability to fit into her leadership role.

I think they are very focused on trying to win this conference, and they do understand the importance, Scott said. It’s good to see Kasia take the leadership role that she really has assumed with this basketball team. She’s not afraid to tell them what she thinks. I’m just really proud of how she’s stepped her game up this season.

The game was a good confidence builder for tonight’s game at Bradley and for the rest of SIUC’s conference schedule, Scott said.

We didn’t have to play McClendon and Gilmore and some of those key players for 40 minutes, she said. That was good. Because Bradley will be a tough game. They’re a good basketball team, and we all know how difficult it is to go in there and play.

It’s just a thing for Bradley to beat Southern Illinois. We really need to be on top of our game in order to go in and win Monday in Peoria.

The Salukis take on the Lady Braves of Bradley University tonight at Robertson Field House. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.