Southern Illinois University
2-2
Tennessee-Martin
2-3
UT Martin slips past SIU, 70-63
11/25/2015 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
SIUSalukis.com
Nov. 25, 2015
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois University took a two-point lead with 4:16 left in the third quarter and was within one point with 1:49 left to play, but UT Martin closed the contest on a 6-0 run to seal the 70-63 win at the SIU Arena Wednesday night.
Dyana Pierre led the Salukis (2-2) with her second double-double of the season, and 39th of her career, finishing with 13 points, 11 rebounds and a career-high six blocks. Rishonda Napier and Carlie Corrigan tallied 14 and 11 points, respectively. SIU out-rebounded UT Martin 41-to-36 but were undone by costly turnovers down the stretch and a slow start to the first half that saw the Salukis shoot just 1-of-14 (7.1 percent) from behind the arc and 9-of-35 (25.7 percent) from the field.
We're a lot better than this," SIU head coach Cindy Stein said. "We didn't play up to expectations of our own. Regardless of what anyone else expected, we didn't play to what we expect. Our defense has to step up and play better. We had good sporadic play. Nothing consistent; very un-disciplined play."
The Salukis rebounded to make 16-of-26 (61.5 percent) in the second half, including 2-of-6 from long range, while holding the Skyhawks without a three in the second half (0-of-7). However, UT Martin shot 42 percent from the field in the second half, as the Salukis fell to 0-2 on the season when an opponent shoots 40% or better.
"You're going to have those nights where you don't hit [shots]," said Stein. "We've got to step it up defensively."
The Skyhawks shot 42 percent (26-of-61) from the field on the night and had three players score in double figures, improving to 2-3 on the year.
"I don't have a clue how we won," said UT Martin head coach Kevin McMillan. "I don't have a clue how we played with basically six kids. I don't have a clue."
The Salukis led 5-2 early but the Skyhawks responded with a 7-2 spurt to go up 9-7. A Corrigan jumper gave SIU back the lead at 11-9, but UT Martin outscored the Salukis, 12-6 to lead by six (21-15) at the break.
The two sides traded baskets for much of the second quarter, with the Skyhawks keeping a six point lead (34-28) at the intermission.
UT Martin's Daijia Ruffin started the second half by making a pair of free throws to push the Skyhawks advantage to nine (38-29) in the first minute of the third quarter. The Salukis countered by rattling off nine straight points, capped off by a three from Napier to take their first lead of the second half, 40-38 with 6:01 left in the third. Southern's lead remained at two after Cartaesha Macklin's jumper from the baseline put SIU ahead, 44-42, but that marked the last time the home team led in the contest.
The Salukis later got to within one, 64-63 with 1:49 to play in regulation, but the Skyhawks ripped off a 6-0 run, highlighted by back-to-back Ruffin layups, to seal the 70-63 win.
"The great thing about this (loss) is it's early in the season," said Stein. "Our team has not gotten on all cylinders yet."
SIU returns to action on Nov. 29 at Memphis with a 2 p.m. CT tipoff.
