Box Score TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State Women's Basketball pulled off a strong third quarter but couldn't hold on as it fell on Senior Day on Sunday afternoon to Southern Illinois, 62-58.
Redshirt senior guard Cierra Ceazer led in her final appearance in Hulman Center with 19 points and seven rebounds to go along with three assists, two steals and two blocks. Redshirt junior forward Joyea Marshall chipped in 15 points on 7-for-13 shooting and grabbed six rebounds. Redshirt junior forward Kelsey Dirks also made her final appearance on her home court, finishing with seven points and four rebounds to go along with two steals.
The Sycamores shot 35.9 percent from the floor but struggled behind the line with just two made 3-pointers and a 10 percent clip. ISU was narrowly outrebounded, 45-43, as both teams worked the offensive board on the afternoon.
Back-to-back buckets out of the media timeout by Marshall and Ceazer gave ISU a 8-7 lead with 3:50 to play. Things were knotted back up at 10-10 on a drive to the rim by Webb but five straight points from SIU's Dyana Pierre ended the first half as ISU trailed 15-10.
The Salukis continued their run into the second quarter, making it eight unanswered before Mackowiak fed Marshall for the layup. Ceazer made it a one point game after she grabbed her own rebound and got the foul on the made putback. Marshall gave the Sycamores the lead back with 2:34 left as she drove from the top of the key to the hole. Neither team would score in the final 2:25 of the half as it was all tied up 24-24 at the break.
Southern came out with back-to-back buckets before the Sycamores got on the board with Ceazer scoring the first second-half field goal with 8:12 to play. It was all Sycamores in the later part of the third quarter, as they went on a 14-0 run in the final four minutes. A Haskins 3-pointer followed by Webb finding Ceazer open in transition led to a four-point ISU lead and a Saluki timeout with 5:51 remaining.
Momentum was on ISU's side as it led 47-40 heading into the final 10 minutes but it was the Salukis who took advantage early and tied things up at 51-51. Smith would regain the Sycamores lead on the bucket and one with 4:56 to play but free throws by SIU's Rishonda Napier tied it up shortly after.
Neither team would hit a field goal until Pierre laid it in with 1:02 to play to go up three. Indiana State would get within two after Ceazer connected with 25 seconds to play but forced to foul, Southern Illinois made four free throws in the final 22 seconds of play.
POSTGAME PRESSER
Hear from Sycamore head coach Joey Wells: https://youtu.be/hIZPJH5u8K4
GAME CHANGER
In a game that featured 11 lead changes and six ties, Southern Illinois got the best of Indiana State on Senior Day as it won the fourth quarter, 22-11, and pulled off its fourth-straight win in the series and extend its win streak to six games.
SYCAMORE LEADERS
Points – C. Ceazer (19)
Rebounds – R. Smith (8)
Assists – C. Ceazer (3)
Steals – C. Ceazer/K. Dirks (2)
Blocks – C. Ceazer (2)
ABOUT THE SQUAD
Field Goal % - 35.9
3-Point FG % - 10.0
Free Throw % -52.6
Rebounds - 43
Assists – 10
Steals – 6
RECORDS
Indiana State: 13-14, 9-7 MVC
Southern Illinois: 19-9, 12-4 MVC
IMPORTANT NUMBERS
4 – Indiana State honored four players in festivities on Sunday afternoon – Kelsey Dirks, Cierra Ceazer, Kalliste Haskins and Alexis Newbolt
15 – Redshirt junior forward Joyea Marshall poured in 15 points, just one shy of a career-high on 7-for-13 shooting
22 – Redshirt senior guard Cierra Ceazer scored her 22nd game in double-figures with a team-high 19 points
UP NEXT
The regular season closes on the road as Indiana State heads to Missouri State (Thursday, 8 p.m. ET) and Wichita State (Saturday, 2 p.m. ET). Both games will be live on The Valley on ESPN3.
For the latest information on the Sycamore Women's Basketball team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
