WICHITA, Kan. - The Wichita State Shockers started 2011 with a victory on Sunday by defeating the Southern Illinois Salukis, 76-51 at Charles Koch Arena in front of a crowd of 1,151.

Michelle Price and Haleigh Lankster each scored 15 points to lead Wichita State.  Terri Oliver paced the Salukis with 16 points and Cici Shannon added a double double with 11 points and ten boards.

Price scored seven straight points, the last on a jumper, to give the Shockers a 20-11 lead at the 10:37 mark in the first half.  After consecutive layups by the Salukis cut the lead to 20-15, the Shockers responded with a 6-0 run to push their lead to 26-15.  Southern Illinois responded with their own run with nine straight points to cut WSU's lead to 26-24.  A Lankster layup in the final seconds of the first half capped a 10-3 run for the Shockers to give them a 36-27 halftime lead.

Lankster led the Shockers with nine points in the first half.  Price added seven points with three rebounds for WSU.  Southern Illinois was led in scoring by Oliver with seven points.

Wichita State's bench outscored Southern Illinois 45-11 and forced the Salukis to commit 27 turnovers.  The Shockers protected the ball on Sunday, committing only nine turnovers.

The Salukis outrebounded the Shockers 42-35 but WSU had 18 offensive rebounds compared to 11 offensive boards for SIU.  Chyna Turner was the leading rebounder for WSU with eight rebounds.

The Shockers next action will be at Bradley on Thursday, Jan. 6.  Tip off is set for 7:05 p.m.  Wichita State will return to Wichita on Thursday, January 14 when they host Indiana State.