Creighton University
Southern Illinois
Women's Basketball Falls at SIU, 63-43
1/18/2007 2:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Creighton scored a season-low 43 points as the Southern Illinois Salukis topped the Bluejays 63-43 Thursday night at SIU Arena. Megan Neuvirth led the Bluejays with 10 points as the CU offense struggled in the second half, making just 6-of-25 shots after halftime when it trailed by only one.
The Bluejays (5-12, 2-4 MVC) fired out of the gates, scoring the first seven points of the game, including five points from Michelle Kaus. CU did not trail until a Carlai Moore bucket put the Salukis (10-8, 6-1 MVC) up 17-16 with 7:35 left in the opening half. From there, the lead was exchanged five times, as CU rebuilt its lead back up to four, up 26-22 with less than a minute to play. The Salukis scored the final five points of the half, including a three-pointer from Erin Pauk inside the final 10 seconds to give SIU a lead it would never relinquish.
CU's offense began its struggle in the first half, hitting its final field goal with better than four minutes to play, as SIU closed the half on a 5-0 run. The shooting problems continued after the break, as SIU opened the second half on a 16-2 run over the first seven minutes to put the game out of reach. The Jays made just one field goal in the first seven minutes of the second half to go better than 11 minutes with just two field goals.
The Jays shot just 30 percent on the night, 15-of-50. The 43 points were its lowest output of the season and fewest since scoring 41 points with a limited roster at Northwestern to open the 2003-04 season (Nov. 21, 2003). CU's 17 second-half points equaled its lowest point total in a half this year and was its fewest in the second half. CU also had a season-low four assists in the game.
Neuvirth reached double figures for the third time this year, going 4-for-6 from the field, but just 2-of-8 from the free-throw line. She also led the team with three steals and chipped in six rebounds. Sara Cain, who entered the game averaging 17.5 points in CU's last two games and shooting 65.5 percent in its last three, made just 1-of-9 shots and finished with two points. Cain did lead the team and tied a career-high with nine rebounds.
Four Salukis finished in double figures, led by Jayme Sweere's 17 points. Dana Olsen added 14 and Carlai Moore 12. Erica Smith had a double-double with 11 points and game-high 10 rebounds, while adding five steals. SIU held a 44-36 rebounding advantage and forced 19 Bluejay turnovers.
The Bluejays will return to action on Sunday at
