The SIU Women’s Basketball team opened up conference play with a nearly 20-point victory over the Valparaiso University Crusaders.

Big performances from Saluki juniors, guard Makenzie Silvey and forward Abby Brockmeyer, helped the team to secure their first conference victory of the season.

Silvey was the leading scorer for Southern with 24 points to go along with seven rebounds, while Brockmeyer led the team in rebounding with 12 total and was able to notch a double-double performance with 17 points.

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Seniors Brittney Patrick and Nicole Martin each chipped in seven points to the Southern offensive effort. Patrick snatched down four rebounds and dished out four assists as well, while Martin grabbed six rebounds.

On the Valpo end, junior forwards Addison Stoller and Grace White were the scoring leaders, with Stoller tallying 13 points and four rebounds and White putting up 10 points and grabbing down five rebounds.

This win gave SIU a 5-0 all-time record against the Crusaders and a 1-0 MVC record to start conference play.

After winning the jump ball, the Salukis secured an early 11-8 lead over Valpo with five early points from Silvey.

With just over five minutes left to play in the first period, a layup from the Crusaders (8-4, MVC 0-1) tied the game 13-13.

By the end of the quarter, Southern had found its footing gaining a small three-point lead at 22-19.

A three-point jumper from White at the beginning of the second quarter closed the small gap between the teams to tie the game again at 22-22.

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The game remained close for the entirety of the half until a strong offensive effort from SIU led by Silvey, who had nine points in the run, and Brockmeyer, who had four points in the run, pushed their lead to seven points.

By the final minute of the third quarter, the Southern lead had climbed to 12 points, but Valpo managed to cut it down to nine as time ran out.

Silvey continued to take charge for the Salukis in the final quarter scoring eight of the team’s 16 points.

This offensive push in the fourth quarter allowed SIU to finish with a 16 point victory over the Crusaders at 67-51.

SIU (8-3, MVC 1-0) will next travel to Chicago, Ill. on Jan. 5 to face off against the Loyola University Ramblers for their second conference matchup of the season. Tip-off is set for 1 P.M.

Sports reporter Tamar Mosby can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter at @mosbytamar.

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