As the final buzzer sounded, the Salukis walked away with a loss at home, starting the season 0-1.
The Salukis opened their season on Nov. 3, against the University of Illinois-Springfield Prairie Stars at home. UIS is a Division II school and its women’s basketball team finished 14-14 last season. The Dawgs finished 10-20 last year, good for eighth in the Missouri Valley Conference.
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Guard Kayla Cooper opened up the scoring with a jumper in the paint on the first possession of the game.
Guard Braxcynn Baker capped of a 7-0 run with a 3-pointer from the corner.
Toward the end of the first quarter, the Prairie Stars knocked down a jumper and a pair of free throws to tie the contest at 12-12.
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A drive layup by guard Tkiyah Nelson gave the Dawgs a 16-14 lead after a quarter.
Similar to the first, Cooper started the second quarter with two points for the Dawgs, but UIS answered right back with a 3-pointer.
After a two-minute scoring drought, guard Shakara McCline put SIU up by two with a putback layup.
The two teams exchanged buckets till the first-half buzzer, entering half at 36-36.
Halftime: UIS 36, SIU 36
The Prairie Stars took the lead to start the secon...