By Nick Jenkinson-SCINN Sports Director
The Indiana Hoosiers are 2-0 on the season after a 96-55 rout of the Southern Illinois Salukis Friday Night at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Indiana will host Bradley on Monday Night at 7 PM. Southern Illinois is 0-2 and will travel to Eastern Kentucky Next Thursday at 6 PM. The Hoosiers are 11-3 all-time against the Salukis and 8-0 in Bloomington and have won the last six meetings in the series.
The Hoosiers scored 36 first quarter points and never tailed in the game. Indiana jumped out to an 18-4 lead to start the game. The Hoosiers outscored the Salukis 17-13 in the second quarter to lead 53-27 at halftime. Indiana outscored Southern Illinois 20-17 in the third quarter and was in control after three quarters leading 75-44. The Hoosiers close out the final ten minutes 23-11 as it was an efficient performance for the Hoosiers from start to finish.
Indiana placed six in double figures led by Lenee Beaumont with 14 points; Kenzie Hare added 13 points and Zania Socka-Nguemen added 11 points and 12 rebounds for her seventh double-double as a Hoosier. Maya Makalusky, Alisa Williams and Addy Nyemchek all scored 12 points each. Freshman GiGi Battle had 7 points and 9 rebounds, Jessica Petrie added 7 points, Malia Samuels scored 5 points, Ashlinn James had 3 points, and Sydney Fenn did not score in four minutes and two seconds of action.
The Hoosiers were 31-60 from the field for 51%, 10-22 from three-point range for 45% and 24-33 from the free throw line for 72%. Indiana had 51 rebounds, 16 assists, 9 steals, 5 blocks and 13 turnovers. The Hoosiers had 41 bench points, 40 points in the paint, 17 points off turnovers, 15 fastbreak points and 14 second chance points.
Kayla Cooper led Southern Illinois with 15 points and Braxcynn Baker scored 13 points. The Salukis were 22-68 from the field for 33%, 6-17 from three-point range for 35% and 5-11 from the free throw line for 45%. Southern Illinois had 27 rebounds, 8 assists, 5 steals, 2 blocks and 14 turnovers. The Salukis scored 28 bench points, 18 bench points, 10 fastbreak points, 9 second chance points and 8 second chance points.
Indiana came out red hot leading Southern Illinois 27-11 with 2:35 left in the first quarter. Hoosiers 11-15 from the field for 73% and 4-6 from three-point range for 66%. In the first quarter the Hoosiers 13-18 from the field for 72%, 5-7 from downtown and 5-6 from the free throw line. Indiana led Southern Illinois 42-23 with 4:39 left in the second quarter. Hoosiers 15-25 from the field for 60%, 5-9 from three-point range for 55% and 7-10 from the free throw line for 70%.
With the shot clock winding down Lenee Beaumont drained a logo three quarter to beat the buzzer with 2:42 left in the second quarter. Indiana 18-33 from the field for 54%, 7-14 from three-point range for 50% and 10-14 from the free throw line for 71%. Maya Malakusky with 11 points for the Hoosiers at halftime. Indiana played well start to finish but the third quarter did not please Head Coach Teri Moren as the Hoosiers had 4 turnovers at break and 9 in the second half.
Coach Moren was pleased with the first quarter start against a very athletic Southern Illinois team and credits her coaching staff for how they prepare for every game “Put us up against any team in the Country in terms of scout and we are as good as anyone.” Coach Moren said, “while Addy Nymechek did not have her best game tonight we all know what she is capable off and the Freshman are going to have different games when they play well” Coach Moren said and tonight that belonged to GiGi Battle.
Indiana was very efficient getting off to great start and setting the tone for the entire game and while this team is work in progress like most teams the Hoosiers are only going to get better as the season goes along and having brought in the four transfers who as Coach Moren said “came from winning programs” will go along way if the Hoosiers want to get back to the postseason.