Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Women's Basketball Visits Indiana State Thursday
02/19/2003 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 19, 2003
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Series History
Despite leading its overall series against Indiana State, 37-21, SIU has lost six straight games and eight of its last nine to the Sycamores. The Salukis suffered a 80-61 loss earlier this year in Carbondale.
The Coaches
Lori Opp (Western Illinois, '88) is 19-56 in her third year as head coach of SIU. Eight of Opp's 19 wins have come against non-conference opponents. Meanwhile, Jim Wiedie is in his second full season as head coach at Indiana State after having served as the team's interim head coach for 22 games during the 2000-01 campaign. Wiedie's career record stands at 37-35 and he is 5-0 all-time against the Salukis.
About the Sycamores
Indiana State recently saw its seven-game winning streak come to an end last week with back-to-back losses at Wichita State (2/13) and SMS (2/15). Despite the minor setback, the Sycamores remained as the league's top threat. Having won 12 of its last 13 games, Indiana State heads into Thursday's game led by senior guard Kourtney Mennen who averages 18.2 points per game. She is joined by starters Melanie Boeglin (12.5 ppg) and Lisa Verhoff (10.2 ppg) who also score double-digits.
About the Salukis
Currently ranking 10th in the Valley, SIU has won two of its last three games, including a stunning 70-63 win over Creighton (2/16). The Salukis, however, will be tested again by the potent Sycamores Thursday. After 21 games this season, senior guard Molly McDowell leads all SIU scorers with 13.9 points per game and 14.1 against conference foes alone. Dana Pinkston follows with 9.6 points and 3.9 rebounds.
Salukis Stun Creighton
SIU helped Indiana State win back sole possession of first place in the Missouri Valley Conference with a stunning 70-63 win over Creighton last week. Prior to Sunday's game, Indiana State fell to a first-place tie with the Jays after having suffered back-to-back road losses to SMS and Wichita State. The Saluki win, however, enabled the Sycamores to stay one game ahead of Creighton.
Pinkston Power
Dana Pinkston (5-foot-4) registered a double-double 16 points and 11 rebounds Sunday against Creighton. She shot 6-of-14 from the field, including 2-of-5 from behind the three-point arc. She also went 2-of-3 at the free throw line and dished out a team-leading four assists in 37 minutes.
McDowell on a Tear
Molly McDowell has averaged 21.6 points per contest in SIU's last three games. In 34 or more minutes played in each of those outings, McDowell shot 20-of-47 (.426) from the field and 3-of-8 (.375) from three-point range. She also made 22-of-25 (.880) at the free throw line, including a 9-of-10 effort against Drake (2/14), where she became the school's all-time career leader in free throws made (337). In addition, she dished out nine assists, gathered four blocks and had nine steals, as her trio of double-digit outings added to a total of 14 on the year.
Second Half Slam
After being held to just three points in the first half, Molly McDowell exploded for 23 points in the game's final 20 minutes against Creighton (2/16). McDowell regrouped to shoot a sizzling 7-of-12 from the field in the second half after having made just 1-of-5 field goals to open the game. The 23-point effort marked her second-straight game scoring 23 or more points.
Board Certified
SIU stymied Creighton (2/16) with a 62-42 advantage on the glass. Katie Berwanger (13) and Dana Pinkston (11) accounted for 24 of the boards, as the Dawgs' shocking mark fell just two rebounds shy of a single-game record.
Third is the Word
SIU's all-time leader in free throws, Molly McDowell currently ranks third among NCAA Division I women's basketball leaders with a .912 percentage. McDowell, who has missed at the foul line just eight times, is 83-of-91 on the year. She lists behind Morehead State's Kandi Brown (.941) and La Salle's Jill Marano (.935).
Shake, Shake, Shake
SIU, who has won two of its last three games, shook things up in the MVC race last week with its win over Creighton (2/16). Although SIU is currently in 10th place and three games out of eighth, mathematically, there is still a chance the Dawgs may make the league's postseason tournament. Obviously, there are a lot of things that need to happen, but the one thing that makes this week's road series at Indiana State/Illinois State crucial is that the Salukis must beat the Redbirds in order to keep their hopes alive. A loss to Illinois State would pretty much eliminate the Salukis.
McDowell Breaks All-Time Free Throw Record
Ranking third in the nation in free throw percentage (.912), Molly McDowell hit 9-of-10 at the free throw line against Drake (2/14) to become the school's all-time career leader in free throws. McDowell, who is 83-of-91 at the charity stripe this season, surpassed Char Warring who knocked down 326 freebees from 1980-84. Following Friday's game, McDowell now stands with 337 free throws in her career.
Matchup Note
SIU is 2-7 on the road this season and hasn't won at the Hulman Center since 1999-00. That year, the Salukis posted a 64-62 win under-then head coach Julie Beck. Additionally, the Dawgs are 0-5 against the Sycamores under Lori Opp.
Bombs Away
SIU made a season-high nine three-pointers in its 84-80 win over Evansville last Monday. Shooting 9-of-18 for 50 percent, Dana Pinkston accounted for six of the team's treys, including a clutch bomb that gave the Dawgs a 83-80 lead with 14.5 seconds remaining. Between the two teams, there were 23 three-pointers made, and three players who hit five or more apiece.
Double Time
Katie Berwanger has registered double-doubles in two of the Salukis' last three games. After posting 19 points, 13 rebounds against Evansville (2/10), the junior from Lake Zurich, Ill., turned around two games later to record 10 points and 13 boards. Berwanger, who averages, 7.5 points and 5.9 rebounds this season, leads SIU with four double-doubles this year.
