Box Score

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Despite battling back from a 12-point first half deficit to tie the score with just under 13 minutes remaining in the game, the University of Evansville women’s basketball team could not take control of the lead, as Southern Illinois used a 16-4 run late in the game to overcome the Purple Aces, 74-60, Sunday afternoon at the Ford Center.
The loss drops the Aces record to 4-16 overall and 1-8 in the Missouri Valley Conference, while the Salukis improve to 6-14 on the season and 2-7 in the MVC.

Junior Samantha Heck led Evansville with 21 points, matching her career-high, while also grabbing nine rebounds. Senior Briyana Blair logged her sixth double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 boards. Junior Meagan Collins also reached double figures with 11 points, including a pair of threes.

After SIU scored the first basket, the Aces responded to take a 6-4 lead with 15:47 on the clock. Heck scored UE’s first seven points of the game, capped by a free throw that tied the score, 7-7.

The Salukis went on a run, going ahead by five, 13-8, but UE answered right back with a 9-2 run of their own, and regained the lead, 17-15, capped by Collins’ three at the 10:28 mark. However, that would be Evansville’s last lead of the game, as the Salukis went on a 14-0 run as a result of five UE turnovers.

After SIU led by 12, 29-17, with 5:37 to go, the Aces cut the deficit to seven with 3:53 remaining, but the Salukis were able to build the margin back up to 12 and took a nine-point advantage, 34-25, into the break.

To start the second half, Evansville used a 10-4 run to get within three, and then cut it to one, 42-41, on Blair’s free throw with 15:22 on the clock. It looked as though Taylor Ware would give the Aces their first lead of the half, but her layup rattled around the rim and fell out.

Heck tied the score, 43-43, on a strong drive from the elbow with 12:53 to go, but that would be as close as the Aces would get, unable to shift the advantage into their favor.

Teri Oliver immediately responded for Southern with a three from the top of the arc, and the Salukis stretched the lead to nine following two more threes.

Evansville came back one last time to get within three, 54-51, following a pair of layups by Miranda Liles and a drive by Blair.

However, SIU went on a 16-4 run to take a double-digit lead and led by as much as 17, 74-57, in the final minute of play.
A free throw and layup by freshman Juliann Miller cut the final deficit to 14.

In the game, Evansville shot 38.9 percent (21-54) from the floor, 38.5 percent (5-13) from three, and 54.2 percent (13-24) from the free throw line, while the Salukis shot 47.5 percent from the field, 40.9 percent three (9-22), and 75.0 percent from the line (9-12).

Evansville won the battle of the boards, 38-33, but turnovers are what the Salukis took advantage of, scoring 25 points off of UE’s 21 miscues.

Oliver led SIU with 20 points, followed by Cartaesha Macklin’s 18 points, and Alexus Patterson’s 12 points and eight rebounds.

The Aces are back in action Thursday when they kick off the second half of the Valley season at Bradley. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. CT.