Due to an explosive performance from senior guard Destiny Salary, WKU Women’s basketball moved its win streak to five games Thursday with an 83-48 road win over Florida International University.
Salary dominated the entire night, totaling 26 points, four rebounds and five assists on 10-14 shooting in just three-quarters of action, marking her best performance of the season.
Junior guard Josie Gilvin continued her consistency, adding 14 points and seven rebounds on the night.
The Lady Toppers were scorching from the field, shooting 66%, and 52% from three. The defense held the Panthers to just 33% from three, and 41% from the field. WKU reached 80 points for the third straight game, outscoring opponents 249-174 in that stretch.
With Liberty defeating Middle Tennessee State Thursday night, the Lady Toppers are locked in as the third seed in the CUSA tournament with one regular-season game to play.
First Half
It was a close affair early in the first quarter, with the Lady Toppers leading 12-9 at the first media timeout. However, WKU extended its lead, outscoring FIU 9-2 the rest of the way taking a 21-11 lead into the second quarter. Salary went off for seven points, and junior forward Zsofia Telegdy scored five.
The Lady Toppers were scorching in the second quarter, going on a 14-5 run early on, led by Salary shooting 4-5 in that stretch. FIU cut into the lead, but the Lady Toppers closed strong and led 43-27 at the break. Salary scored nine in the quarter.
Second Half
The Lady Toppers went nuclear in the third quarter, dominating FIU in every facet of the game. The defense was explosive, as FIU went on an eight-minute scoring drought, while WKU dominated on the offensive end.
The Lady Toppers outscored the Panthers 22-5 in the third opening up the WKU lead to 65-32 going into the fourth. Salary put on a show, scoring 10 points in the third, and Gilvin scored four.
The Hilltoppers closed it out in the fourth, with the bench outscoring FIU 18-16 in the quarter. Freshman guard Salma Khedr scored six points, and senior guard Mariama Sow scored five locking down the Lady Toppers’ fifth straight win.
Next up for the Lady Toppers is the season finale on the road against Liberty on Saturday. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m.
Sports Reporter Austin Rice can be reached at [email protected]