CARBONDALE, Ill. (Interstat) — Southern Illinois used a strong fourth quarter to defeat Illinois-Chicago 63-58 in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Sunday at SIU Arena. The Salukis, who trailed by four at halftime, outscored the Flames 20-16 in the final period to secure the conference victory. Indya Green led Southern Illinois with 20 points. Jessica Carrothers scored a game-high 22 points for Illinois-Chicago, and Julia Coleman added 16. Both teams shot evenly in the paint and off turnovers, but the Salukis’ late surge proved decisive. Southern Illinois improved to 5-12 overall, while Illinois-Chicago fell to 8-10. Attendance was 488.

CARBONDALE, Ill. (Interstat) — In a game defined by grinding defense and offensive inefficiency, the Southern Illinois Salukis used a decisive fourth-quarter push to overcome the visiting Illinois-Chicago Flames 63-58 in a Missouri Valley Conference women’s basketball contest Sunday at SIU Arena. The Salukis, who entered the game with a 4-12 record and were given only an 18.7% chance to win by advanced metrics, improved to 5-12 overall. The Flames, projected as heavy favorites, fell to 8-10 despite a valiant effort from guard Jessica Carrothers. The most critical phase of the game unfolded in the final period. Southern Illinois, clinging to a 43-42 lead after three quarters, opened the fourth with a 10-2 run to establish its largest advantage of the game at 53-44. Alayna Kraus and Indya Green fueled the surge with mid-range jumpers, capitalizing on a stretch of empty possessions for UIC. Illinois-Chicago refused to capitulate, answering with an 11-4 run of its own, capped by a Julia Coleman layup with 2:42 remaining, to trim the deficit to 59-57. The Flames had multiple opportunities to tie or take the lead in the final two minutes but came up empty on four consecutive shot attempts, including a blocked three-pointer by Green in the closing seconds. Southern Illinois sealed the victory at the free-throw line, with Tkiyah Nelson’s floating jumper in the lane with 22 seconds left providing the final margin. The game was a stark contrast in offensive execution. Southern Illinois shot 50% from the field, making 27 of 54 attempts, while Illinois-Chicago struggled to a 41.3% clip, hitting 26 of 63. The Flames’ shooting woes were most acute from beyond the arc, where they missed all 10 three-point attempts. The Salukis attempted only four threes, making one. Both teams prioritized interior play, with UIC holding a slight 38-36 edge in points in the paint. Turnovers were nearly even, with Southern Illinois committing 14 and UIC 12, leading to 10 points off turnovers for each squad. The Salukis’ efficiency proved the difference, scoring 63 points on just 65 possessions for an offensive rating of 97.3, compared to UIC’s 84.3 rating on 69 possessions. Indya Green led all scorers for Southern Illinois, finishing with 20 points and showcasing a relentless effort on the glass with multiple offensive rebounds. Kayla Cooper added 13 points, and Alayna Kraus chipped in 10. Kynnedi Davis facilitated effectively with a team-high four assists to go with 10 points. For Illinois-Chicago, Jessica Carrothers shouldered the offensive load, scoring 22 points on a variety of drives and pull-up jumpers. Julia Coleman provided a strong interior presence with 16 points, and Chantrel Clayton added 10 points and three assists. The first half set the tone for a defensive struggle. UIC led 14-12 after a low-scoring first quarter and extended its lead to 24-20 in the second before Southern Illinois closed the half on an 8-4 spurt to tie the game at 28-28 heading into the break. The third quarter saw seven lead changes, with neither team able to build more than a four-point cushion. The victory snaps a two-game losing streak for Southern Illinois, which will host Indiana State on Thursday. Illinois-Chicago, which had won two of its last three, looks to rebound at home against Illinois State on Thursday. The announced attendance at SIU Arena was 488.

Preview: Illinois-Chicago at Southern Illinois Women’s Basketball CARBONDALE, Ill. (Interstat) — Two Missouri Valley Conference teams seeking momentum will meet Sunday when the Illinois-Chicago Flames visit the Southern Illinois Salukis at SIU Arena. The Flames (8-9, 2-3 MVC) enter with a modest uptick, coming off a 66-48 road win at Evansville on Friday. Guard Jessica Carrothers led the way with 25 points and five assists, continuing a dominant stretch. Over her last six games, the standout junior is averaging 19.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists, including a 26-point performance against Drake and a 20-point, 8-rebound, 5-assist effort in a win over Northern Iowa. Southern Illinois (4-12, 1-4) looks to rebound from a 87-74 home loss to Murray State on Thursday. The Salukis’ season has been highlighted by a 97-59 rout of Valparaiso on Jan. 10, but they have struggled for consistency. A key bright spot is sophomore forward Indya Green, who scored 18 points against Murray State and erupted for 19 points in just 17 minutes in the win over Valparaiso. The Flames have shown a higher offensive ceiling in conference play, but have been prone to scoring droughts, as seen in a 48-point outing against Austin Peay in December. Southern Illinois’s defense, allowing an average of 74.3 points in its four MVC losses, will be tested by Carrothers and fellow guard Julia Coleman, who added 16 points in the win over Evansville. This is the first of two regular-season meetings between the programs this season. They will meet again in Chicago on Feb. 5. Southern Illinois holds a slight historical edge in the series, but both teams are focused on climbing the MVC standings from the bottom half. Sunday’s contest tips off at 2 p.m. CST. Illinois-Chicago visits Bradley on Jan. 25, while Southern Illinois hosts Indiana State on Jan. 22.