Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Women's Basketball Looks to Halt Five-Game Losing Skid
01/10/2002 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 10, 2002
Carbondale, Ill. - Currently on a five-game losing streak, Southern Illinois (4-8, 0-3) will begin a tough two-game road trip Saturday when the Salukis travel to Springfield, Mo., to face Southwest Missouri State (5-7, 2-2) at 2:05 p.m.
SIU, who hasn't won a game in over a month, is coming off three straight home losses, and as a result, stands at ninth place in the Valley. SMS ranks sixth in the league standings after most recently falling to Creighton.
The Salukis are just 9-14 at the John Q. Hammonds Center which averages 5,424 a game in attendance this season. Since 1990, the Dawgs have lost their last 14 of 15 games in Springfield, and haven't won on the Lady Bears' home floor since Feb. 22, 1997 (80-65).
Last season, SMS posted an 89-70 win over SIU behind 43 points from Jackie Stiles who was named the WNBA's Rookie of the Year this past season. Additionally, the Hammonds Student Center was packed with 9,129 fans during that game which ranked as the fourth largest crowd in SMS Lady Bear history.
Although junior guard Molly McDowell continues to lead the Saluki attack averaging 13.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, it has been freshman Danette Jones who has carried SIU as of late. A native of Salem, Ill., Jones is averaging 12.0 points per game over the Salukis' last three contests. Posting three consecutive double-digit outings, including a season-high 16 points against Evansville (1/5), Jones has additionally knocked down five consecutive three-pointers.
Meanwhile, SMS, who made it to the NCAA Women's Final Four a year ago, is led by senior guard Erica Vicente who stands as the Lady Bears' only player averaging double-figures this season. Averaging 10.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game, Vicente has started all 12 of the Lady Bears' games this season. Freshman guard Jennifer Lingor then follows with 9.9 points per game.
SMS holds a 23-22 advantage in the overall series with SIU which dates back to 1977. Since 1998, however, the Lady Bears have strung together a nine-game winning streak over the Salukis which currently stands to date.
SIU's game with SMS this weekend will be televised live on WSIU-TV 8.
Pre-Game Notes: SIU has suffered 33 or more-point losses in its last two games, Standing at 0-3 in the MVC, the Salukis are still searching for their first league win of the season, SIU has lost five straight games and six of its last eight, SIU hasn't won a game since Dec. 8 when the Salukis beat Tennessee State, 71-63, in Carbondale, After being projected to miss the entire 2001-02 campaign, junior forward Katie Berwanger returned to the court last Saturday against Evansville. After missing four and a half months due to a re-aggravated ACL injury, Berwanger played seven minutes, SMS head coach Cheryl Burnett, who is one of the most decorated coaches in the league, holds an astounding 308-130 record in 15 years at the helm of the Lady Bear program.
