Big Second Half Lifts Cougars

Box Score

         EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. -- A 61-point second half lifted Southern Illinois University Edwardsville women's basketball to a 104-68 victory over Missouri Baptist Thursday afternoon at the Vadalabene Center.
         With a matinee contest, SIUE scored triple digits for the first time since Feb. 29, 2006, when it scored 113 against Saint Joseph's. It was only the 10th time in school history that an SIUE women's basketball team has scored 100 or more points.
         Five players scored in double figures for the Cougars. Amber Shelton led SIUE in several offensive categories with 23 points, nine rebounds, five assists, four steals and two blocks. Lindsey Rujawitz pumped in 16 points followed by 15 from Whitney Sykes, 12 from Jessie Stapleton and 11 from Elyse Morris.
         It didn't look anything like a 36-point blowout when the buzzer announced the end of the first half. The two teams were tied 43-43 with SIUE having to battle back from an eight-point deficit midway through the half.
         Missouri Baptist's April Redus and Nikia Henry kept the Spartans in the game with some heavy-duty three-point shooting. Missouri Baptist hit 8 of 12 three-pointers in the first half.
         Redus led all scorers with 27 points and 12 rebounds before fouling out of the game. Henry added 18 points and four assists.
         The Cougars wore down the Spartans by forcing 28 turnovers and hitting 32 of 39 from the free throw line. SIUE's bench players outscored Missouri Baptist's bench 35-7.
         SIUE also debuted Alhambra native Kara Frandsen, who scored six points, grabbed three steals, handed out three assists, and pulled down three rebounds.
         The Cougars return to the pine Saturday for Great Lakes Valley Conference action against Quincy. Game time is 5:30 p.m., a change from the schedule set at the beginning of the season.
                  -siue-

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Players Mentioned

#12 Jessie Stapleton: F; 5' 9"; Junior

#32 Kara Frandsen: G; 5' 7"; Freshman

#15 Elyse Morris: G; 5' 9"; Senior

#00 Lindsey Rujawitz: F; 6' 0"; Freshman

#24 Amber Shelton: F; 5' 11"; Senior

#33 Whitney Sykes: G; 5' 5"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#12 Jessie Stapleton
: 5' 9"; Junior
: F

#32 Kara Frandsen
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: G

#15 Elyse Morris
: 5' 9"; Senior
: G

#00 Lindsey Rujawitz
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: F

#24 Amber Shelton
: 5' 11"; Senior
: F

#33 Whitney Sykes
: 5' 5"; Senior
: G