BOX SCORE

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Redshirt sophomore Khristian Hart poured in a career-high 26 points and sophomore Mallory Ladd notched her fifth-straight double-double, as the University of Evansville women’s basketball team topped visiting Southern Illinois, 71-65, Sunday afternoon at the Ford Center.
 
Neither side led by more than two possessions in the second half, as Evansville (4-10, 2-1 MVC) and SIU (4-10, 1-2 MVC) shared the lead several times in the second half, until the Hart was able to put the game away in the final seconds of the contest on a pair of free throws.
 
Senior Taylor Ware joined Hart and Ladd in double figures for Evansville (4-10, 2-1 MVC) with 10 points, as the Purple Aces matched their Missouri Valley Conference win total from last season.  Ladd scored 16 points, going 5-for-9 from the field and 5-for-5 at the foul line, in addition to hauling in a career-high 13 rebounds. 
 
The Aces scored the first two points of the contest, but Southern Illinois tallied the next seven and led 7-2 just over five minutes into the game.  The Salukis lead would be short lived, as Ware tied the game at 9-9 on a fastbreak basket following a steal by Hart.
 
Ware’s basket and strong defense sparked a 20-4 run for Evansville, as the Aces took a 22-11 advantage when Ladd converted an old fashioned three-point play with 11:00 remaining the opening half.
 
UE took its largest lead of the game, using a 12-0 run to extend its margin to 34-13 on a three from Hart at the top of the arc.  However, Jameeka Bouie ended a six-minute scoring drought for the Salukis and SIU proceeded to respond by hitting three-straight treys as part of a 14-0 run that trimmed Evansville’s lead to just seven at 34-27 at the 3:27 mark.
 
The Aces’ went cold from the field over the final eight minutes of the half, scoring just three points in that span, as Southern Illinois closed the gap to 37-34 heading into the locker room, ending the half on a 21-3 run.
 
UE shot 50.0 percent from the field (15-for-30) in the opening stanza, but shot just 2-for-7 from behind the arc.  SIU connected on 41.4 percent of its first-half shots (12-for-29) and buried five of its eight shots from long distance.
 
The two sides traded baskets in the early part of the second half, until Southern Illinois took its first lead since the 12:51 mark in the first half when Cartaesha Macklin converted a three-point play, giving the Salukis a 44-43 lead.
 
Ladd hit a pair of shots from the charity stripe to regain the lead for UE, but it was short lived, as Rishonda Napier buried a three on the ensuing possession for SIU to put the Salukis back in front, 47-45, with 14:40 remaining in the game.
 
Just over a minute later, Evansville would take control, 52-49, on a jumper by sophomore Juliann Miller and a pair of free throws from senior Samantha Heck.  However, Macklin had the answer for Southern Illinois once again, putting the Salukis back in front, 54-52, on a three-point play at the 9:28 mark.
 
Jordyn Courier buried a three from the left corner to give the Salukis a four-point edge, at 59-55 with 5:39 to play, but the Aces quickly answer, as Ladd connected on a three-pointer from the right wing to bring UE back within one at 59-58 at the 5:15 mark.
 
The big shot for Evansville game from Hart with 3:08 remaining in the game.  As the shot clock expired, the sophomore guard sank a three from the right corner that would give the Aces the lead for good at 63-61.
 
Macklin tied the game at 63-63 on an up –and-under layup with two minutes to play, but UE was able to close the game on an 8-2 run to secure the 71-65 victory.
 
The Aces dominated the boards, grabbing 41 to the Salukis’ 28, including 13 on the offense glass that resulted in 16 second-chance points.  Evansville also won the battle inside the paint, outscoring SIU, 36-24, in that column.
 
UE will continue Valley play Thursday, Jan. 17, with a road game at Illinois State starting at 7:05 p.m.  The Aces will close the weekend with a 1:05 p.m. contest at Indiana State Saturday, Jan. 19.