A crowning achievement — The SIU women's basketball team celebrates at center court Friday night after their win clinched at least a tie for the Salukis' first Missouri Valley Conference title. The Salukis, 18-9, won the title outright two days later when second-place Illinois State lost. SIU hosts Missouri State at 7:05 p.m. Thursday, and closes out the regular eason at 2:05 p.m. Saturday against Wichita State. The Salukis have won six straight straight games — 15 of its last 17 — and are the No. 1 seed entering the conference tournament, March 8-11, at Drake's Knapp Center in Des Moines, Iowa.

Steve Buhman, Media & Communication Resources