Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Women's Basketball Hosts SE Missouri State Wednesday
11/30/2004 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 30, 2004
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill.-Southern Illinois (0-4) continues its three-game homestand Wednesday when regional rival SE Missouri State (3-1) visits SIU Arena. Tip off is at 7:05 p.m.
SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE
SIU, who suffered its first home loss of the season to Tennessee Tech on Nov. 28, has dropped four games in a row. Mired in a 13-game losing streak dating back to the end of January, 2004, the Salukis haven't won a game since beating Bradley (1/31/04), 78-75, in Peoria.
ON THE HOMEFRONT
SIU is 1-11 in its last 12 games at SIU Arena. The last time the Salukis won at home was on Jan. 10, 2004, when they beat Evansville, 65-62. Since then, the Dawgs have dropped seven straight.
ANOTHER OHIO VALLEY OPPONENT
SE Missouri State is the second consecutive Ohio Valley Conference opponent SIU faces after recently losing to Tennessee Tech on Nov. 28. The Salukis have squared off against seven of the 11 OVC schools throughout their women's basketball history. Holding an all-time 107-30 record against OVC opponents, SIU is 36-6 against Eastern Illinois; 2-0 against Eastern Kentucky; 30-4 against Murray State; 23-4 against SE Missouri State; 7-5 against Tennessee-Martin; 2-0 against Tennessee State; and 7-11 against Tennessee Tech.
SERIES HISTORY
Wednesday's game marks the 28th meeting between SE Missouri State and SIU. The Salukis, who lead the series, 23-4, have lost their last two games against SEMO, including a 73-64 loss in Cape Girardeau a year ago.
SCOUTING SEMO
SE Missouri State (3-1) looks to extend its winning streak to four games when it crosses the Mississippi River to visit Carbondale Wednesday. All three of the Otahkians wins have come at home.
Last season, SEMO was picked to win the OVC, but this year, the Otahkians were tabbed fifth. Head coach B.J. Smith might think the reversal of roles this season means his team is underestimated.
This year, Smith brought in 11 newcomers, including six junior college transfers, as part of a recruiting class considered to be one of his best. Also, between the Otahkians' 15 members on this year's roster, there are a total of five different countries represented.
Statistically, SEMO has a balanced offense which sports three players averaging in double figures. Junior guard Tatiana Conceicao leads all scorers with 19.8 points per game, while forwards Natalie Purcell (14.5 ppg) and Brandi Russia (12.3 ppg) follow. Senior center/forward Chandra Brown, who scored 17 points off the bench against the Salukis last season, is also back for SEMO. Brown was named second-team preseason all-OVC.
As a team, the Otahkians are averaging 86.0 points per game to their opponents' 67.8. SEMO is also shooting 45.8 percent (116-of-253) from the field.
THE JONES AND DESAMOURS SHOW
Danette Jones (71) and Daphney Desamours (52) have combined for over half of SIU's 201 points in four games this season. Jones tops all scorers with 17.8 points per game and Desamours ranks second with 13.0. Not to mention, Jones has scored double figures in three of four games, while Desamours has pitched in double figures in every one of her outings.
JONES LIGHTS IT UP
After playing all 40 minutes in each of the last three games, you might think a player would start showing some signs of fatigue. Not senior Danette Jones, who continues to be the Salukis' most dominant shooting threat. A native of Salem, Ill., Jones is averaging 5.3 three-pointers a game, and is shooting 24-of-61 (.393) from downtown on the year. Additionally, her recent six three-poiners against Tennessee Tech (11/28) fell one shy of tying the school's single game record.
JONES JOINS ELITE CROWD
Danette Jones became only the fifth Saluki in school history to surpass 100 career three-pointers. Her six treys against Tennessee Tech Sunday upped her career total to 101, which currently ranks fifth all-time. In four years as a Saluki, Jones has made 101-of-297 (.340) three-pointers, and is chasing Karrie Redeker, who holds the school record with 161 threes from 1988-92.
DESAMOURS SOARS
Daphney Desamours registered her fourth straight game scoring in double figures with 12 points against Tennessee Tech (11/28). Desamours, who hails from Miami, Fla., was held scoreless in the first half and played just nine minutes due to foul trouble. She, however, came alive in the second half, where she shot 5-of-12 from the field, 1-of-2 from three-point range and 1-of-2 from the free throw line. Not to mention, Desamours turned the ball over only once in 26 minutes.
EIGHT TO DATE
After playing its exhibition game against St. Louis Goldstar with only six players, SIU's active roster has since gone to eight. Although senior Lecretia Akines dislocated her left thumb and Amy Hayden strained a tendon in her shin, both have played in every game this season. Freshman Rachel Boldt is the only other eligible Saluki who remains out due to injury. She has been sidelined with a stress fracture.
GOOD START
Senior forward Wendy Goodman, who only started in two games during her first three years at SIU, surpassed that mark with four starts this season. A native of Evansville, Ind., Goodman is the Salukis' leading rebounder with an average of 6.5 per game. Included in her total of 26 boards in four games are a season-high of 11 against Northern Illinois (11/20). Those 11 boards also tied a career high.
FREE TIME
SIU is shooting 70.8 percent to its opponents 68.8 mark at the free throw line this season. The Salukis have made 34-of-48 free throws and are attempting 12 shots per game. Meanwhile, its opponents are 44-of-64.
WHILE ON THE TOPIC
Elyse Morris has made four consecutive free throws in her last two games. A native of Prophetstown, Ill., Morris is 7-of-8 from the line for a .875 percentage this year.
