Southern Illinois University
Saint Louis
Three-Point Shooting Paces Billikens in Win Over Salukis
03/20/2001 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
December 16, 2000
St. Louis, Mo. -
Freshman guard Kirsti Holloway connected on 4-of-5 three-pointers for 12 points while Star Jackson (12) and Christan Shelton (14) also posted double figures to lead Saint Louis University to a 83-56 win over Southern Illinois University Carbondale Saturday at Bauman-Eberhardt Athletic Center.
Holloway's 4-of-5 effort from behind the arc led the Billikens to a team record 7-of-8 treys for the game.
Saint Louis came out firing in the first half scoring on its first four possessions of the game to take an early 9-5 lead three minutes into the opening stanza. SIU, who has been known for its ice cold shooting in the first half as well as turning the ball over, upheld that reputation once again. The Salukis connected on just 7-of-28 (.250) field goals while turning the ball over 11 times. The 7-of-28 display from the floor added to a gloomy 24-of-84 first half performance in the Dawgs' last three games.
After Holly Teague connected on a jumper to bring the score to within two at 9-7, the Billikens then started running. Up 9-7, SLU put together a 9-0 run which was capped off by a Melissa Oliver jumper. During the span, which lasted 6:39, the Salukis missed 11 straight shots until Jodi Heiden hit a jumper to break the drought with 10:09 left as SLU led 18-9. Following the Heiden bucket, the Billikens strung together a 6-0 spurt elapsing the next 2:27 which increased the Saint Louis lead to 24-9. SIU, however, battled back and was able to cut into the margin when a Terica Hathaway jumper cut the lead to 29-19 with 2:26 left to play. The Billikens then mustered a 6-0 jaunt which included four points from the free throw line to end the half ahead of the Salukis 35-19.
Momentum shifted at the start of the second half as Southern Illinois scored on its opening four possessions and as a result built a 9-2 run which pulled the Dawgs to within nine, 37-28, with 17:21 left. That was as close as SIU would get to the Billikens, however, whose Kirsti Holloway was about to take over.
Up 50-35 with 11:53 remaining, Holloway came off the bench and connected on 4-of-4 three-pointers which added to a 24-4 run as the Billikens built their biggest lead to 74-39 with 4:45 left. Holloway was on fire knocking down three treys in four straight SLU possessions beginning with 6:53 on the clock, two of which came back-to-back as SLU coasted to the 83-56 victory.
Saint Louis shot a sizzling 56 percent (18-of-32) from the field in the second half to go along with a 78 percent (7-of-9) from the free throw line. Additionally, the Billikens were perfect from three-point land in the second half shooting 5-of-5.
Senior Terica Hathaway led all Saluki scorers with 16 points (7-of-19) while Molly McDowell added 13 (3-of-7).
SIU, 2-6, will conclude its non-conference schedule Tuesday, Dec. 19, when the Salukis return home to host the University of Tennessee Martin at SIU Arena. Tip-off is set for 7:05 p.m.
