Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Women's Basketball Visits Wichita State Thursday
01/05/2005 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 5, 2005
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill.-Southern Illinois (2-9, 0-2) resumes Missouri Valley Conference play Thursday when it visits Wichita State (3-8, 0-2). Tip off is set for 7 p.m., CST.
SERIES HISTORY
SIU holds a 28-18 lead in its all-time series against WSU, but has lost its last 11 games to the Shockers dating back to 1999. All but two of those losses were by 10 or more points.
LAST TIME OUT
SIU lost its second straight conference game by 21 or more points when the Salukis fell to Drake, 70-49, on Jan. 2. The Dawgs turned the ball over a season-high 23 times and were outrebounded, 41-23, in the loss.
SCOUTING THE SHOCKERS
Preseason picked eighth in the league this season, WSU currently ranks ninth with a 0-2 conference start.
The Shockers, who have dropped five of six, including their last three straight, lost at Northern Iowa (63-38) on Jan. 1 and Bradley (84-53) on Jan. 3.
Averaging 58.1 points per game, WSU is struggling from behind the three-point line, where it is shooting a dismal 22.4 percent (22-of-98). The Shockers were also outscored, 220-148, in their last three outings.
Freshman forward Kiki Stephens stands as the lone Shocker scoring double figures in points with a 12.1 ppg mark. Sophomore center Rochell Busenitz follows with 7.7 points.
Jane Albright is 13-26 in her second year as head coach of WSU. The Shockers tied for seventh with an overall 10-18, 7-11 MVC record in Albright's first year last season.
ABOUT THE SALUKIS
Like WSU, SIU also opened its Valley season with a pair of losses. After falling to Creighton (85-63) on Dec. 31, and Drake (70-49) on Jan. 2, the Salukis are in last place behind the Shockers.
SIU has played every game this season with eight players, three of which average 34 or more minutes.
Senior guard/forward Danette Jones still tops the Salukis with 15.0 points, despite being held to a season-low three points against Drake. Senior point guard Daphney Desamours, who has pitched in double figures in all but one game this season, follows with 14.9 points and a team-leading 5.7 rebounds.
As a team, the Salukis are scoring 55.5 points, while shooting 38 percent (216-of-568) from the field.
MORRIS AND AKINES, TAKE A BOW
Elyse Morris and Lecretia Akines each scored double figures for the first time in their Saluki careers against Creighton (12/31). Akines, who had some key baskets that kept the Dawgs in the game early on, scored 10 points on 5-of-7 field goals. Morris also pitched in 10 points that were highlighted by a perfect 6-of-6 effort at the free throw line. Not to mention, she grabbed six rebounds, which tied for the team-lead.
ON A ROLL
Elyse Morris has made eight free throws in a row over her last two games. Going a career-best 6-of-6 at the charity stripe against Creighton (Dec. 31), Morris has since gone 2-of-2 against Drake (Jan. 2). On the year, Morris is shooting a third-best 81.5 percent (22-of-27) at the foul line.
DESAMOURS DOMINATES
Daphney Desamours averaged 17 points in two conference games last weekend. Desamours scored a career-high 25 points against Drake (1/2) after being held to just nine two days earlier against Creighton (12/31). Desamours shot 14-of-27 (51.9 percent) from the field in both games, including an 11-of-17 mark against the Bulldogs. She also made 5-of-8 free throws, grabbed nine rebounds, dished out one assist and had two steals.
