CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois junior forward Nicole Martin posted a career-high 26 points Sunday in the Salukis' 61-58 loss to Indiana State in Missouri Valley Conference play.
Martin (Jefferson City High School) shot 10-of-18 from the floor and made 6-of-8 free throws, playing all but one minute in the loss. She added six rebounds.
"Nicole is playing really well," Southern Illinois coach Cindy Stein said in a press release. "She's playing really hard and wants the ball. She's doing whatever she can. I felt like she was pretty solid the entire night."
Martin leads the Salukis this season with 15.7 points per game, which ranks sixth in the MVC, and is second on the team with 6.9 rebounds per contest. She ranks second in the conference with a 57.1 shooting percentage
Her previous career high was 24 points, which came last season in an 84-73 loss to Drake.
In Friday's 67-47 win against Evansville, Martin recorded her second double-double of the season with 23 points and 12 rebounds.
Southern Illinois (8-5, 1-1 MVC) plays next Sunday at Missouri State.