Lady Sycamores secure winning season

CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Indiana State women’s basketball team rallied from a six-point halftime deficit to earn a 77-64 road Missouri Valley Conference victory against Southern Illinois on Saturday inside SIU Arena, securing the program’s first winning season since 2009-10.

The victory improves Indiana State to 16-8 overall and 8-5 in conference play, as the Sycamores have now won four consecutive games this season. ISU’s 77 points on Saturday are also their most this season and just the fourth time the team has posted 70 points in 2012-13.

Southern Illinois (4-19, 1-11 MVC) raced out of the gates on Saturday, posting a 15-point lead after just five in a half minutes of play. SIU’s Mercedes Griffin capped the early run for the Salukis, knocking down a jump shot with 14:34 left in the opening half to give the home side a 21-6 lead.

Junior Anna Munn put the Sycamores on her back in the first half, scoring 10 points during a 12-5 run for Indiana State to close within eight points, at 28-20 SIU with 8:15 left in the first half. Munn scored 20 points in the first half for the Sycamores, shooting 6-for-10 from the field with three three-pointers.

The Salukis took a 42-36 into the locker room, shooting 17-for-30 (56.7%) in the first half and scoring 14 points off 11 ISU turnovers. The Sycamores went 13-for-26 (50%) from the field in the opening half.

Indiana State dominated the game in the second half, using a 20-4 run after the break to take a 56-46 lead with 10:30 remaining. The Sycamores threw the ball inside to sophomore Racheal Mahan and freshman Marina Laramie for the offense during their run, as the ISU post players combined for 14 of ISU’s 20 points during the run.

The Sycamores went in front by 20 points on two separate occasions, on a layup by Munn with 2:50 remaining (74-54) and on a jumper shot by freshman Kalliste Haskins with 2:01 to go (76-56). The jumper for Haskins was her first points of her ISU career and came on her 19th birthday.

Munn tied her career high with 27 points, shooting 9-for-15 from the field with four three-pointers to match her effort on the road at Missouri State earlier this season. Mahan posted her eighth double-double of the season, totaling 22 points and 10 rebounds. Laramie also went into double figures, adding 14 points and a career-high five assists.

Indiana State shot 14-for-24 (58.3%) in the second half and 27-for-50 (54%) for the game. ISU also improves to 13-1 on the season when out-rebounding their opponent, winning on the glass by a 37-29 margin.

Indiana State returns to Hulman Center for a three-game homestand, hosting Illinois State on Sunday, Feb. 24. Tipoff is set for 2:05 p.m.