EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville women's basketball team dropped their game of the regular season game on Sunday, falling to SIU 75-69 inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse. The Aces battled back in the second half after facing an 18-point deficit at halftime, but came up just short in a hard-fought effort.

Evansville finishes the regular season 7-24 with a 5-15 mark in MVC play. The Aces will open the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament on Thursday as the 10 seed, taking on 7^th-seeded UIC at 6 PM on Thursday at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa.

Camryn Runner (Cicero, Ind./Hamilton Heights) led the Aces against the Salukis, scoring 20 points with eight rebounds and five assists. Sydney Huber (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Mount Vernon) also scored in double figures with 10 points.

Evansville began the game on a 7-0 run, including five consecutive points from Georgia Cox (Ballarat, Australia/Eastern Illinois). The Salukis quickly erased the deficit, however, scoring eight consecutive points to jump ahead. Both teams traded baskets over the next several possessions, but the Salukis scored the final six points of the quarter to take a 19-14 lead.  

SIU continued their run in the second quarter, scoring the first four points to go ahead 23-14. Evansville brought it back within four after Elle Snyder (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe) converted three free throws after being fouled on a three-point attempt, but another SIU run put the Salukis up 34-21 at the 5:54 mark. SIU remained red-hot from the field for the remainder of the quarter, taking a commanding 51-33 lead into the break.

As hot as SIU ended the half, they came out from halftime just as cold, allowing the Aces to chip away. Daniela Llavero (Malaga, Spain/ IES Mediterráneo) provided a spark off the bench for Evansville, converting on a reverse layup to bring the game within 15 with 3:58 to go in the third quarter. As time expired in the quarter, Runner drew a foul and sunk both free throws, making it 61-47 heading into the fourth.

Evansville continued their comeback in the fourth quarter, holding the Salukis to two points in the first 5:56 of the period. With five minutes to go, Huber knocked down consecutive three-pointers to bring the Aces within eight. The Aces continued to storm back, cutting it to five with 1:41 to go on a layup by Runner and getting it to four with 17 seconds left when Runner knocked down a three. However, that's as close as the score would get, as the Salukis hung on for a 6-point win.

Evansville shifts into MVC Tournament play on Thursday, battling 7^th-seeded UIC on Thursday in Coralville, Iowa. Tip-off is set for 6 PM from Xtream Arena.