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Team has first season ending win since 2001
Kyle Means
Daily Egyptian
As one member of the SIU women's basketball team was celebrated for being on the brink of graduation, the rest of the team continued to learn - this time it was a lesson of how to win in overtime.
A running bank shot by sophomore Erin Pauk with two seconds remaining in overtime gave SIU a 59-58 win over Illinois State (12-15, 7-11). Pauk's shot put a cap on what could be seen as one of the most thrilling women's basketball games SIU (10-17, 6-12) has had for a long time.
In the overtime period, Pauk provided the kind of clutch play that head coach Dana Eikenberg had been clamoring for much of the season. Pauk scored five of her six points in overtime.
"She said she was just getting her legs underneath her at the 42 minute mark," Eikenberg said. "Erin's got a green light from me, I knew she was going to hit one, I just didn't know it would be so crucial."
For a while it looked like the Salukis would make the game into a blowout, a regal sendoff for the team's lone senior, guard Amy Hayden. Early dominance would give way to an even longer period of uncertainty as the Redbirds would stage a comeback that made Saturday's game into a back-and-forth affair.
There was a time during the extra five minutes when SIU was down by five points, 55-50, but it was at that time when the team found comfort in its position and a renewed will to win instead of panicking. Saturday's game was the third home game in the last four in which SIU was taken into overtime. The previous two overtime outings, losses to Evansville and Wichita State, sparked feelings in the Salukis that they were due for a win.
"Every game we've had is a learning experience for us," Pauk said. "We came out in overtime and Amy made a comment to me that 'this is where we cross the line.' This time we just pulled together and said 'this is it guys, we're right here, we know what to do.'"
Confidence at that moment was needed as SIU had not long ago collapsed, losing a 20-point lead and getting outscored 16-3 by a single Redbird player during an impressive second half run. With 14:58 remaining in the second half and SIU leading 38-18, Redbird senior forward Holly Hallstrom engineered a 21-3 run with 16 points of her own.
Even before that point, Hallstrom was Illinois State's main offensive weapon, scoring 12 of the team's 18 points. During the run she was determined to do more than keep her team in the game.
"We knew in the second half we needed to start dumping it in to try and get their posts into a little bit of foul trouble," Hallstrom said. "I wasn't sure if they were going to double team or not so maybe it would open up another teammate."
SIU, on the other hand, was just trying to hold on. The Salukis nearly wasted a first half shooting percentage of 44 percent by shooting 25 percent in the second half and the Salukis had no answer for Hallstrom.
"They shot the ball really well down the stretch," Hayden said. "It was us that changed and that's when they started coming back. Their posts have stepped up a lot since we played them last time, Hallstrom was big. "
After a 3-pointer by Megan McCracken put ISU in the lead with 3:01 remaining, SIU took what was almost its last stand. The Salukis responded immediately with a jumper from Jayme Sweere that gave them the lead back. Once again, Sweere and Carlai Moore led the way for SIU. Sweere had 16 points and five rebounds while Moore had 22 points and 14 rebounds.
Nine of Moore's rebounds were on the defensive end. The Salukis had 34 defensive rebounds, a key stat as both teams had trouble hitting shots consistently. Both teams shot 38 percent, their percentages wouldn't be that high if they didn't make nine of 16 attempts in overtime.
SIU looked to be ready for the win when two free throws by Moore pushed its lead up to 48-42 with 14 seconds remaining, but Illinois State would hit two three-pointers to tie the game at the end of regulation. The second three-pointer came at the buzzer from Redbird point guard Kristi Cirone, which resulted from SIU not being able to get the ball inbounds in five seconds.
When SIU was behind in overtime, it took a 7-0 run that included baskets by Moore, freshman Teresa Parker and Pauk to get in position for the win. The win was a team effort all in Hayden's name. The four-year player came to SIU under former head coach Lori Opp and left under Eikenberg.
"It was awesome, the girls, we stayed together," Hayden said. "To win our last home game hasn't happened in a long time, just to be part of that is a great feeling and I'm just really proud of my teammates."
The Daily Egyptian, the student-run newspaper of SIUC, is committed to being a trusted source of information, commentary and public discourse while helping readers understand the issues affecting their lives.
The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of SIU at Carbondale. Except during vacations and exam weeks, The Daily Egyptian is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and TWThF during the summer semester. The Pulse, Carbondale Entertainment Guide, is published once a week on Thursday.Last update: Sunday, March 5, 2006 at 9:25:17 PM
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