The Saluki women showed off for the local elementary school on Field Trip Day and took down the Martin Methodist College RedHawks (9-3) Thursday 60-50.

The matchup marked the first meeting between the two teams and the first time Southern faced a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics program during the regular season since 1985.

Sophomore forward Nicole Martin kickstarted the Salukis early in the first period as she put up six points on a 13-2 run in just six minutes of play. Martin went on lead the team in points with 16 in the contest.

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“Anytime we get a decent lead on a team regardless of their division we get comfortable,” senior guard Kylie Giebelhausen said. “We act like we don’t have to play defense.”

Martin Methodist finished the final four minutes of the first quarter with momentum as they outscored Southern and brought the lead within six at 18-12.

The Salukis owned the boards in the first quarter and out-rebounded the Redhawks 14-6, but struggled with ball control as they committed five turnovers in the first ten minutes.

“They out-hustled us in so many categories that we usually excel in,” sophomore guard Brittney Patrick said.

The Salukis stretched their lead back out to nine late in the second quarter after they allowed Martin Methodist to crawl within three. The first half ended with a 33-24 advantage for Southern.

SIU’s bench played a large role in the first half as they scored 16 of the 33 first-half points and gave head coach Cindy Stein a depth advantage.

After a five-minute drought with no field goals, it was Martin who broke the mold with a layup that put Southern ahead 39-34.

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Martin Methodist sparked late in the third quarter and racked up back to back 3-pointers that brought the Redhawks within three at 44-41.

Just as the Salukis began to pull away again, the Redhawks sank a deep, buzzer-beating 3-pointer that reeled Southern back in at 49-44 at the end of the third quarter.

In the fourth, Martin Methodist rattled off a 6-2 run that brought it within one at 51-50.

Although Southern bent, it did not break as the Salukis claimed the final nine points of the contest and sealed the victory.

“We learned a lot about ourselves this game,” Stein said. “They did a fantastic job of making us earn everything.”

Up next, the Salukis (5-3) will be back in SIU Arena on Sunday to take on Western Kentucky University. Tip off is scheduled for 2 p.m.

Sports reporter Dillon Gilliland can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter at @DillonGilliland.

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