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January 6, 2007 SOUTHERN ILLINOIS CONTROLS BOARDS, DOWNS SYCAMORES CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Southern Illinois Salukis broke a 13-game losing streak to the Indiana State Sycamores, using rebounding, particularly offensive rebounding, as SIU defeated ISU, 86-69. ISU drops to 9-6, 2-2 MVC while SIU improves to 7-8, 3-1 MVC. The Salukis pulled down 43 rebounds, winning the carom war by a wide 43-20 margin. SIU managed to find 21 offensive boards and score 18 second chance points in downing the Sycamores. ISU scored the first bucket of the game to lead 2-0 when junior center Laura Rudolphi hit her first shot of the game, but it was all Salukis from that point, going on a 17-5 run to take a 17-7 lead five minutes in that they would not lose. Trailing by a first half high 16 points, 47-31 with a minute left before intermission, Leah Phillips scored a lay-up and beat the buzzer with a 3-point shot off a penetrate and kick from Angela Phillips to cut the halftime margin to just 47-36. But SIU came out of the gates blazing in the second half as well, using two offensive rebounds to find a pair of buckets and push the lead to 51-36. ISU could not mount a serious run at the Salukis in the second half because of their inability to get the basketball off SIU missed shots. Southern Illinois held the ball for more than two consecutive minutes from the 16 minute mark of the second half until the 14 minute mark when they pulled down five offensive rebounds in succession. The series of Saluki shots ended with SIU’s Dana Olsen connecting on a pair of free throws Olsen led the Salukis with 21 points in the game. She was one of four Salukis to reach double figures scoring as Debbie Burris scored 15 and Carlai Moore as well as Erica Smith scored 14. ISU was paced by Leah Phillips who connected on four 3-pointers to score 14. Annie Bankhead added 12 as did Laura Rudolphi. The Salukis were on fire throughout the game, hitting 54.5% of their shots. SIU got 11 more shots off than the Sycamores did because of their strong offensive rebounding. The Salukis drained eight shots from downtown in the game, including seven in the first half. The Sycamores were also plagued by turnovers in the contest, committing 17 miscues which the Salukis converted into 28 points. Indiana State now opens a season-long, three-game homestand which begins Thursday night at Hulman Center against Missouri State. Tip-off is slated for 7:05 p.m. (ET).
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