HOW IT HAPPENED
Torri James, Tia Shelling, Mya Pratcher, Zsofia Telegdy and Jeniffer Silva were the first five on the court for WKU for the second consecutive game.
The first points of the game came on a 3-pointer from Telegdy. She went on to score WKU's first nine points of the game, hitting three 3-pointers, personally outscoring the Salukis and giving the Lady Toppers a 9-5 lead. Telegdy ended up going 4-for-4 from three in the first quarter and the Lady Toppers were 5-of-7 from long range with Tatum Boettjer also getting in on the action. WKU took a 17-14 lead into the second quarter behind the hot shooting.
Southern Illinois opened the second quarter with five straight points to claim a lead for the first time. A three from Enni Ahervuo put WKU back ahead, but the Salukis returned the three. The Lady Toppers scored four straight to go back ahead, but a 6-0 run from Southern Illinois gave the Salukis a 3-point lead with 3:10 left in the first half. WKU bounced back with a 7-0 run to go back ahead, 31-27. The two teams traded points from there and WKU took a 35-31 lead into halftime.
Silva scored the first points of the second half, but Southern Illinois rattled off four straight points to cut WKU's lead to two. The Lady Toppers responded with a 9-0 run. The teams traded baskets the rest of the quarter and WKU took a 51-42 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Salukis started the fourth quarter with a 5-0 run to cut WKU's lead down to four with 8:33 left in the game. James broke the WKU scoring drought at the 6:21 mark of the quarter, giving WKU a 53-47 lead. After a Southern Illinois basket, WKU scored seven straight to seal the win.
NOTABLES
- WKU finished the game with nine blocks which is the seventh most in a single game in WKU history.
- Tia Shelling was the leading scorer for WKU with 16 points to go along with a career high six steals, four rebounds and four assists. It was her second time leading the team in scoring this season.
- Zsofia Telegdy finished with 15 points, a new season high, and had eight rebounds and a career high six assists. Her five made 3-pointers are a season high as well.
- Mya Pratcher also posted double digit points with a season high 11 along with seven rebounds and a season high three steals.
- The Lady Toppers shot 48.0 percent from the field while Southern Illinois shot 31.3 percent. WKU improves to 3-1 on the season when outshooting its opponent and 92-17 under Collins when doing so.
- WKU hit the magic number with 60 points. The Lady Toppers improve to 121-55 under Collins when scoring 60-or-more (WKU is 5-38 when scoring less than 60). The Lady Toppers are 104-26 under Collins when holding teams below 70 points and 52-9 when holding teams below 60.
UP NEXT
The Lady Toppers will be back in E.A. Diddle Arena to host Florida Atlantic on Wednesday, Dec. 3 at 6:30 p.m.
How to Follow the Lady Toppers: For complete information on Lady Topper Hoops, visit WKUSports.com or follow the program via social media @LadyTopperHoops on X, @LadyTopperHoops on Instagram, @WKU.WBB on TikTok and on Facebook at facebook.com/WKUWomensBasketball.
