Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Women's Basketball Hosts Evansville Saturday
01/21/2005 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 21, 2005
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill.-Southern Illinois (2-13, 0-6) closes out its three-game homestand Saturday when it hosts Evansville (10-5, 3-3) at 2:05 p.m. The Salukis beat the Purple Aces the last three of four years at SIU Arena.
SERIES HISTORY
SIU leads its all-time series against UE, 16-12. Although they have lost four of their last six games to the Purple Aces, the Salukis are 3-1 at home against UE since 2001.
LET'S GET A "W"
After dropping six straight games to open MVC play, SIU is the only team in the Valley still searching for its first win of the conference season. The Salukis currently stand in last place among league foes.
LAST TIME OUT
The turnover bug continued to bite SIU in its last two games, as the Salukis dropped a 64-40 decision to Northern Iowa on Jan. 14, and suffered a 68-42 loss to Bradley on Jan. 16. The Salukis turned the ball over 42 times in the two games, including 23 against the Braves.
TURNOVERS PROVE COSTLY
SIU is averaging 22 turnovers in its first six conference games, while its opponents are only committing 13.5. So far, the Salukis have turned the ball over 132 times in those contests, which rank as the second-most turnovers in Valley games behind Wichita State's 144.
SCOUTING EVANSVILLE
UE looks to win its second game in a row after knocking off then-ranked, second-place Northern Iowa (64-61) on Jan. 16.
Two Aces, including Megan Liffick and Laura Gaybrick average double figures in the scoring column this season. Liffick leads UE with 10.8 points per game, while Gaybrick follows close behind with 10.7.
As a team, UE is averaging 70.1 points and 12.7 steals a game.
Additionally, the Purple Aces are looking to win their first game in Carbondale since Jan. 5, 2001.
ABOUT THE SALUKIS
SIU is coming off a six-day rest, and looks to snap a seven-game losing streak Saturday when it hosts UE.
The only winless team in the MVC, SIU is led by seniors Danette Jones and Daphney Desamours. Like UE's top-two scorers, Jones and Desamours are nearly identical in the scoring column. Jones averages 13.8 points, while Desamours follows with 13.5.
Team wise, the Salukis are putting up 52.8 points a game and are turning the ball over on 22 occasions in Valley games alone. Not to mention, the Dawgs have lost all but one of their league games by 21 or more points.
KEEPING UP WITH JONES
Senior guard/forward Danette Jones leads the Salukis in scoring with 13.8 points per game. A native of Salem, Ill., she has been SIU's top scorer seven of 15 times this season. Jones ranks among individuals in the MVC in several categories, including scoring (8th), free throw percentage (8th; .811), three-point field goals made (5th; 2.33 avg) and minutes played (3rd; 35.9 avg).
MORE ON JONES
SIU's number one long range threat, Danette Jones had knocked down 35 three-pointers this season, which rank third in the Valley. Jones, who has 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 SHINES
Since conference play began, senior walk-on Lecretia Akines has stepped up for the Dawgs. In SIU's six league games, Akines is averaging 6.3 points and registered a career-high of 10 against Creighton on Dec. 31. She also hauled down 19 of her 28 rebounds this season in those contests. A native of Wheaton, Ill., Akines is shooting a sixth-best 51.4 percent (18-of-35) 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 4 to 12 freebees over five outings this month. Shooting a combined 18-of-33 in 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' 47 makes in 77 attempts. As a team, the Dawgs are shooting 67 percent (144-of-215) at the free throw line.
BRUSTER REGISTERS DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Freshman India Bruster came off the bench to register a career-high 16 points and 13 rebounds in 31 minutes against Northern Iowa on Jan. 14. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Bruster also shot 8-of-18 from the field, gathered four blocks and had a pair of steals. She also accounted for nearly half (5) of SIU's field goals in the second half.
JONES BACK ON TRACK
After being held scoreless in only 12 minutes against Northern Iowa (Jan. 16), SIU's leading scorer, Danette Jones, regrouped to score 10 points on 4-of-6 from the field, including 2-of-3 from three-point range. Jones is now averaging 13.8 points per game this season.
RARE OCCASION
SIU shockingly did not shoot one free throw or make a three-pointer against Northern Iowa on Jan. 16. In fact, the Salukis have only attempted four free throws in their last 80 minutes of basketball. Meanwhile, their opponents are 27-of-36 from the foul line in the last two games.
