Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Women's Basketball Hosts Northern Iowa Friday
01/13/2005 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 13, 2005
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill.-Southern Illinois (2-11, 0-4) returns to Carbondale for a three-game homestand beginning Friday when the Salukis host Northern Iowa (9-5, 3-0) at 7:05 p.m.
SERIES HISTORY
SIU leads its all-time series against UNI, 27-15, but has lost 13 of its last 14 meetings against the Panthers. The Salukis beat UNI, 63-55, on their home court on Feb. 21, 2002, but have since lost four in a row.
LET'S GET A "W"
After dropping four straight games to open MVC play, SIU is one of two Valley teams still searching for a conference win. The Salukis currently stand in last place among league foes, and join ninth-place Indiana State (0-3) as the only two teams without a league win.
LAST TIME OUT
SIU dropped a pair of games on the road at Wichita State (67-52) and SMS (78-48) last week. The Shockers, who were averaging 25.4 turnovers a game heading into their Jan. 6 matchup against the Salukis, only turned the ball over nine times, while SIU committed 27 turnovers. At SMS on Jan. 8, the Lady Bears knocked down 13-of-30 three-pointers and received a huge lift off the bench from K.C. Cowgill. Cowgill pitched in a game-high 21 points in 20 minutes. Senior Danette Jones led all SIU scorers in both games with 17 points against the Shockers and 15 against the Lady Bears.
SCOUTING NORTHERN IOWA
At 9-5 overall and 3-0 in the MVC, UNI is off to its best start in the conference since the 2000-01 season when they won their first six league games. The Panthers bring a four-game winning streak to SIU Arena, and have heated up to win five of their last six. One of those wins was a 65-55 drubbing of preseason favorite SMS on Jan. 3.
Three Panthers are averaging double figures, including junior center Cassie Hager (13.5 ppg), senior forward Alex Cook (12.7 ppg) and senior guard Emily Berry (10.2 ppg). Cook was this week's MVC Player-of-the-Week.
UNI has made 61 three-pointers on the year and has registered 76 blocks. The Panthers also lead the league in scoring defense, holding opponents to 57.4 points a game. As a team, UNI is scoring 62.6 points per contest.
Tony DiCecco is in his 10th season as the Panthers' head coach. He is 136-131 all-time at UNI, and is the school's all-time winningest women's basketball coach.
ABOUT THE SALUKIS
SIU looks to snap a five-game losing streak, and pick up its first win of the New Year, when it hosts UNI Friday.
Playing with eight players, the Salukis are led by seniors Danette Jones and Daphney Desamours. Jones tops the team with 15.2 points per game, while Desamours follows with 14.1. The two have accounted for 53.5 percent of SIU's points this season.
SIU is only averaging 53.0 points to its opponents 75 in league games this year, but the Dawgs are shooting 73.3 percent (44-of-60) at the free throw line.
Redshirt freshman Elyse Morris missed her first start of the season at SMS on Jan. 8. Morris was hindered by back spasms, which limited her to 25 minutes.
KEEPING UP WITH JONES
Senior guard/forward Danette Jones leads the Salukis in scoring with 15.2 points per game. A native of Salem, Ill., she has been SIU's top scorer seven of 13 times this season. Recently, Jones has led the Dawgs in three of her last four games, as she ranks among MVC individual leaders in several categories, including scoring (6th), free throw percentage (8th; .811), three-point field goals made (3rd; 2.54 avg) and minutes played (2nd; 37.4 avg).
MORE ON JONES
SIU's number one long range threat, Danette Jones has knocked down 33 three-pointers this season, which tie for second in the Valley. Jones, who ranked among the top-three in the nation in three-pointers per game on two occasions this season, has drained five or more treys three times this year. She also knocked down a career-high of seven (7-of-16) at Bethune-Cookman on Dec. 18.
AKINES AWAKENS
Since conference play began, senior walk-on Lecretia Akines has stepped up for the Dawgs. In SIU's four league games, Akines is averaging 6.5 points and registered a career-high of 10 against Creighton on Dec. 31. She also hauled down 12 of her 21 rebounds this season in those contests. A native of Wheaton, Ill., Akines is shooting a league-leading 66.7 percent (12-of-18) from the field in Valley games.
STREAKY FREE THROWS
After attempting at least 24 free throws in four of six games during the month of December, SIU has only shot 7 to 12 freebees in three outings this month. Shooting a combined 16-of-29 in those January matchups, the Salukis did not attempt a free throw in the first half against both Drake (1/2) and SMS (1/6).
WHILE ON THE TOPIC
Three Salukis, including Danette Jones (.811), Amy Hayden (.833) and Elyse Morris (.759) are shooting 75 percent or better from the foul line this season. Of the three, Jones has made the second-most free throws (30-of-37) on the team behind Daphney Desamours' 46 makes in 75 attempts. As a team, the Dawgs are shooting 67.3 percent (142-of-211) at the free throw line.
