Women's Basketball Looks to Win Second Straight at SEMO
11/23/2001 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 23, 2001
Carbondale, Ill. - Southern Illinois University (1-1) will look to win its second straight game Saturday when the Salukis head to Cape Girardeau, Mo., to face Southeast Missouri State (2-1). Tip off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Saturday's game marks the first of a three-game road trip for the Salukis who begin a five-game span against Ohio Valley Conference opponents.
Southern Illinois enters this weekend's duel coming off an exciting 57-53 win over Saint Louis Monday. Seniors Holly Teague and Geshla Woodard, along with junior Molly McDowell currently lead the Dawgs in scoring after two games. Teague tops the team with an average of 12.5 points, while Woodard (11.5) and McDowell (11.0) follow with 11 or more points apiece.
Southeast Missouri State carries a two-game winning streak into Saturday's game after most recently defeating Oakland City (80-66) this past Tuesday. The Otahkians are led by 2000-01 first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference forward Lori Chase who is averaging 19.0 points per game. Chase, who came off a stellar sophomore year which saw her set the OVC single-game record in free throws (23), pitched in 12 points against Oakland City. She is joined by senior guard Veronica Benson who is averaging 11.0 points per game.
SEMO has only enjoyed two wins against SIU as the Salukis hold a commanding 23-2 advantage in the overall series. Although the series first originated in 1962, SIU enters Saturday's matchup sporting an 11-game winning streak over the Otahkians. Southern Illinois last lost to SEMO by a score of 40-38 in 1971 as both teams haven't met since 1982.
Notes:SIU is an impressive 101-25 all-time against Ohio Valley Conference opponents. With its most recent win being last season against Tennessee-Martin (74-67, Dec. 19), Southern Illinois is 34-6 against Eastern Illinois, 2-0 against Eastern Kentucky, 30-4 against Murray State, 23-2 against SEMO, 6-5 against Tennessee-Martin and 6-8 against Tennessee Tech. There are only two OVC opponents the Salukis have not faced and they are Tennessee State, who SIU will play Dec. 8, and Morehead State, Junior guard Molly McDowell returned to the starting lineup Monday against Saint Louis. McDowell missed the team's season opener at Nebraska after sustaining a mild concussion in the Salukis' exhibition game on Nov. 11.