Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Women's Basketball Heads to Southwest Missouri State
03/05/2003 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
March 5, 2003
Hammons Center - A Bear to Play In
It is safe to say that Hammons Student Center, the home of the SMS Lady Bears, is one of the toughest places to play in the Missouri Valley Conference. Averaging 6,664 rowdy fans per home game, the Lady Bears sport a 9-4 mark there this season. SIU, on the other hand, hasn't won a game at the Hammons Center since 1997 when the Dawgs pulled out a 80-65 stunner.
Crunch Time
After suffering back-to-back losses to Bradley and Northern Iowa last week, SIU is now in a position where it must win its last two games to have a shot at making this year's Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. In addition to winning their last two games, the Salukis will have to hope that Illinois State and Evansville each loses the rest of their games. So far, both the Redbirds and Purple Aces have done so.
Series History
SIU hasn't beaten SMS since 1997, as the overall series stands at 26-22, in favor of the Lady Bears. Since 1998, the Salukis have lost 12 straight games to SMS, including a 69-56 bout in Carbondale earlier this year.
Boardin' Berwanger
Katie Berwanger's 12 rebounds at Indiana State (2/20) marked the third time in SIU's last six games that she has recorded double figures in boards. Averaging a team-leading 5.9 boards per game, Berwanger also leads the Salukis with four double-doubles this season, including two in her last six contests.
Streak Hits 12
SIU's all-time career-leader in free throws, Molly McDowell made a perfect 4-of-4 charity tosses to extend her streak to 12 straight. The streak of 12 in a row matched her previous stretch of a dozen free throws that was done on two other occasions this season.
Jones Steps Up
Sophomore Danette Jones posted her first double-digit outing since Jan. 25 Thursday against Bradley. Jones, who came off the bench to score 10 points in eight minutes against the Braves, shot 3-of-5 from the field, including a near-perfect 2-of-3 from behind the three-point arc. For Jones, her 10-point effort marked the third time this season that she has come off the bench to score double figures.
McDowell Keeps Dominating
The team's leading scorer with 14.7 points per game, Molly McDowell scored at least 15 points in a game for the 14th time this season Saturday against Northern Iowa. McDowell led all Saluki scorers shooting 8-of-17 from the field and 8-of-8 from the free throw line. Additionally, she grabbed six rebounds, dished out two assists and had two steals.
About the Salukis
SIU, who currently stands two games behind eighth-place Evansville, enters Thursday's game on a two-game losing streak after suffering back-to-back losses to Bradley (2/27) and Northern Iowa (3/1). Losing three of their last four games, the Salukis are led by Molly McDowell's 14.7 points per game. McDowell, who has been the lone Saluki to average double figures in points all season long, also stands atop the team in free throw percentage, assists, blocks and steals.
About the Lady Bears
SMS, who stands in fifth place among league foes, secured a spot for this year's Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. The Lady Bears, who have won three of their last four games head into Thursday's matchup coming off wins against Bradley (2/22) and Wichita State (3/2). Standing at 13-12 and 9-7, SMS boasts four of its five starters averaging in double figures. Kari Koch leads the charge with 14.4 points per game, while Jenni Lingor follows with 12.5. Meg Tierney (10.8) and Morgan Hohenberger (10.0) round out the patented foursome with at least 10 points per game.
Head Coach Lori Opp (Western Illinois, '88)
Lori Opp is 20-59 in her third year as head coach of the Southern Illinois University women's basketball program. Opp, a native of Havana, Ill., first joined the SIU women's coaching staff in 1998. Under then-head coach Julie Beck, Opp worked as an assistant coach for two seasons. Prior to that, she served as an assistant coach at Murray State, Eastern Illinois and Indiana State. Additionally, Opp is the sixth head coach in SIU's 42-year history.
Head Coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson (Iowa, '90)
Katie Abrahamson-Henderson is 13-12 in her first season at SMS and as a college head coach. She was named SMS women's basketball coach on May 14, 2002 after having served two years as associate women's head coach at Michigan State. She also served as an assistant coach at Duquesne (1990-92), Maine (1992-94) and Iowa State (1994-00).
Nice Work
After averaging 22.4 miscues per game in each of its previous five contests, SIU committed a season-low 12 turnovers Saturday against Northern Iowa. The 12 turnovers marked the ninth time this season that the Salukis have turned the ball over less than 20 times.
McDowell on a Tear
Molly McDowell has averaged 20.3 points per contest in SIU's last seven games. In 21 or more minutes played in each of those outings, McDowell shot 45-of-106 (.425) from the field and 11-of-25 (.440) from three-point range. She also made 41-of-48 (.854) at the free throw line, including 12-of-12 straight in the last two games. Additionally, she dished out 24 assists, gathered seven blocks and had 12 steals.
22 and Over Only Please
The team's leading scorer, Molly McDowell has registered 22 or more points on seven occasions this season. Scoring a career-high of 35 points, which rank as the most in a single game by any women's basketball player in the Valley this season, McDowell has touched the nets for 23 or more points in four of SIU's last six games.
