Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Women's Basketball Hosts Bradley Wednesday
02/24/2004 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 24, 2004
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois (3-20, 2-12) returns home to host Bradley (6-17, 4-10) on Wednesday. Tip off is set for 7:05 p.m., at SIU Arena.
SIU holds a 37-7 lead in its overall series against Bradley. However, the Braves have controlled the series in recent years posting five wins in their last six games against the Salukis.
SIU has lost five straight games and has been swept by four consecutive Valley opponents.
Ranking last in the league, the Salukis are led by senior guard Dana Pinkston who averages 10.5 points per game. She is followed by Danette Jones who scored 9.3 points per game and Katie Berwanger who averages 8.4 ppg to go along with a team-leading 8.5 rebounds.
As a team, SIU is scoring just 58.9 points per game and has allowed an average of 85.5 points to its opponents in its last four contests.
Bradley holds the ninth-place spot in the league standings, as one of three teams tied with a 4-10 MVC mark. Most recently, the Braves defeated Drake (69-58) on Feb. 20 and lost to Creighton (68-64) on Feb. 22.
Like SIU, Bradley has just one player scoring in double figures. Genny Mueller tops the Braves with 11.7 points per game, while Dena Williams (9.0 ppg) and Va'Nicia Waterman (7.8 ppg) follow. Additionally, BU has struggled from three-point range, where it is shooting just 28.8 percent (100-of-347) on the year.
SIU plays its final two home games of the season this week against Bradley (2/25) and Northern Iowa (2/29). The Salukis are just 1-8 at SIU Arena, and they will try to keep from becoming the first women's basketball team in school history to go a season with less than three home wins.
