Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Women's Basketball Opens MVC Play Saturday Against Drake
01/02/2004 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 2, 2004
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill.-- Southern Illinois (1-8) looks to ride its momentum from a recent three-point win into its Missouri Valley Conference season which opens Saturday, Jan. 3 against Drake (3-6). The Salukis and Bulldogs tip off at 2:05 p.m., at SIU Arena.
Saturday's game against Drake is one of three straight home games SIU plays to open its 18-game league slate.
SIU is certainly due for a win over the Bulldogs, who have won by an average of 20.5 points in their last 15 meetings against SIU. Holding a commanding 1136-828 advantage in those contests, Drake has won by 30 or more points in three of their last four outings against the Salukis.
Amy Stephens, one of three first-year head coaches in the Valley this season, is currently 3-6 in her Drake debut. Stephens joined the Bulldogs after eight seasons at Nebraska-Kearney, where she built one of the most successful NCAA Division II programs in the nation en route to becoming the school's all-time winningest coach with a 197-43 record.
Stephens' squad, however, has struggled so far, especially on the road. Losing its last three road games, and four of its last five, Drake enters tomorrow's matchup led by sophomore guard Linda Sayavongchanh's 9.9 points per game, as not one Bulldog is averaging double figures. Sayavongchanh is followed by freshmen Whitney Pegram and Jill Martin who each score 9.1 points per game. Additionally, Pegram leads Drake with an impressive 21 blocks after nine games this season.
Meanwhile, SIU is coming off its first win of the season last Monday against Saint Louis. The Salukis, who snapped a 12-game losing streak against the Billikens, are led by senior forward Katie Berwanger who averages 10.8 points per game. Scoring 10 or more points in six of nine games this season, Berwanger also tops the Dawgs with three double-doubles and 8.7 boards a game.
On paper, it's stunning how evenly matched both SIU and Drake are heading into Saturday's MVC debut. Aside the fact each team has opened their respective 2003-04 campaigns with tough non-conference schedules, the Salukis and Bulldogs are similar in several categories, including scoring average (SIU 59.8, DU 58.4), field goal percentage (SIU .429, DU .426), three-point percentage (DU .311, SIU .307), free throw percentage (SIU .643, DU .632), rebounds per game (DU 33.8, SIU 33.3) and turnovers per game (SIU 20.5, DU 19.7).
SIU looks to snap a 15-game losing streak against Drake, who is 7-0 at SIU Arena dating back to 1997.
