OWENSBORO, KY - Sophomore Keishla Gilmore scored a game-high 17 points for Salem International University on Monday afternoon (Feb. 20) as the Tigers dropped a 79-42 decision to Kentucky Wesleyan College in NCAA Division II women's basketball action.

Gilmore would finish just 3-of-18 from the floor but go 10-for-16 at the free-throw line to pace the Tigers offensively. She also recorded a team-high seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Fellow sophomore Jiahna Flood-Francis added nine points for SIU, while sophomore Imari Bowers tallied five points.

The Tigers head to Cedarville, Ohio on Thursday night (Feb. 23) for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off against Cedarville University. SIU concludes its 2016-17 season on Sunday night (Feb. 26) with a matchup against the Bluefield State College Blues at 6 p.m.

Kentucky Wesleyan used an efficient-start to the contest to build an early lead against the Tigers. The Panthers went 10-for-12 from the floor in the first quarter and 6-for-6 at the free-throw line, while SIU went 5-of-13 from the floor and 1-for-2 at the free-throw line. KWC would lead for the entire contest even though the Tigers were even on the scoreboard for 20 seconds.

Leading 26-11 after the opening quarter of action, the Panthers would cool-off from the floor, shooting 31.3 percent (5-of-16) from the floor and 0-of-4 from downtown. The Tigers would have their offensive struggles as well, shooting just 23.1 percent (3-of-13) from the floor. SIU tallied five points at the charity stripe in the second quarter, going 5-for-6 while the Panthers converted on 6-of-8 opportunities. Both teams combined to go 0-for-10 from downtown in the first half and committed a total of 24 turnovers.

The Panthers held a 42-22 lead heading into the break and recorded 17 points off of SIU turnovers.

Entering the third quarter, the Panthers would be able to add to their lead by shooting 42.9 percent (6-of-14) from the floor. The Tigers didn't have the luck of the rim in the quarter, hitting just 2-of-11 shots from the floor. SIU did a better job of getting second-chance opportunities in the fourth quarter, finishing the game with nine second-chance points.

Down-the-stretch it would be the bench for the Panthers that helped them cruise to victory, recording 41 points with 10 coming from Jasmine Shelt. The Panthers also out-scored the Tigers 32-20 inside the paint.

SIU finished the game 14-of-56 from the floor, 2-of-14 from downtown, and 12-of-20 from the free-throw line, while the Panthers went 29-of-57 from the floor, 3-of-12 from downtown, and 18-of-27 from the free-throw line. The Panthers also owned a 48-33 advantage on the boards and recorded 19 assists.

Shayla Wright recorded a team-high five assists for KWC while adding seven points and four rebounds. Erin Dorn added 10 points and six rebounds for the Panthers.