Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Women's Basketball to Host Wichita State
02/07/2002 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 7, 2002
Carbondale, Ill. - After breaking for a little over a week, the Southern Illinois (4-15, 0-10) women's basketball team returns to action this weekend when it hosts a pair of games beginning tomorrow night against Wichita State (8-12, 3-8). Tip off is set for 7:05 p.m.
SIU has won three of its four games at home this season where the Salukis are 3-5 to date. Last winning at SIU Arena on Dec. 8 against Tennessee State (71-63), however, the Dawgs haven't won a game on their home floor since that time.
Currently on a 12-game losing streak, SIU hasn't played since last Wednesday when it fell to Evansville (80-63) at Roberts Stadium. The guard tandem of Molly McDowell and Holly Teague continue to pace the Salukis in their top two scoring spots.
McDowell leads all SIU scorers with 12.3 points per game, while Teague follows close behind with 12.1. Averaging 4.3 dishes per game, Teague also stands just 19 assists away from hitting the 100-assist plateau for the second consecutive season.
Meanwhile, Wichita State has dropped its last five straight games, and as a result, stands at 8-12 overall and 3-8 in the MVC. Currently ranking ninth in the Valley, the Shockers are led by the league's third leading scorer in Jennifer Kaczka. Kaczka is averaging 16.5 points and 8.8 rebounds per game to go along with a blistering 42 percent (22-of-53) from three-point range.
Following Kaczka are forwards Carlesa Dixon (12.2 ppg) and Angela Buckner (11.7 ppg, 12.5 rpg) who are also averaging double-digits for the Shockers. Buckner, however, will miss tomorrow's game as she is out for two weeks due to a partial tear in her right medial meniscus ligament.
SIU leads the overall series against Wichita State, 28-13. Dating back to 1981, the Salukis, at one time, won 13 straight games against the Shockers. Since 1999, however, the Shockers have held the upper hand in the series winning their last six consecutive outings over the Salukis, including a 85-53 win in Wichita earlier this year (1/14).
