Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Women's Basketball Plays at SMS Saturday
01/07/2005 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 7, 2005
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
SERIES HISTORY
Although SIU won 17 straight games to open its all-time series against SMS, it's been the Lady Bears who have taken control in the last seven years. Dating back to 1998, SMS has beaten the Salukis in 15 consecutive games, and hasn't lost to SIU since 1997.
TOUGH PLACE TO PLAY
Hammons Student Center, which serves as the home of SMS, has been tough on the Salukis in recent years. In fact, SIU has not won a game in its last seven trips to Springfield. The last time the Salukis won at Hammons Student Center was on Feb. 22, 1997 (80-65). Attendance wise, the Lady Bears are averaging 7,131 fans in five home dates this season.
TOUGH BREAK
In four of its last five visits to Springfield, SIU has lost to SMS by 29 or more points. Outscored 330-180 in those contests, the Salukis suffered their worst loss in school history at SMS (89-35) a year ago.
LAST TIME OUT
SIU dropped its third straight MVC game at Wichita State (67-52) on Thursday. The Salukis committed a season-high 27 turnovers, including 16 in the first half, before taking the loss. Danette Jones led all SIU scorers with 17 points.
SCOUTING THE LADY BEARS
Preseason picked to win the MVC this season, SMS currently stands in fourth place among league foes with a 2-1 mark. The Lady Bears' only conference loss came at Northern Iowa (65-55) on Jan. 3.
SMS, winners in three of their last four games, is led by senior guard Jenni Lingor. Lingor leads the league and ranks second in the nation in scoring with 23 points per game. She also lists third in the conference in assists with a 4.83 average.
As a team, the Lady Bears top the league in three-point field goal percentage (41.0; 87-212), field goal percentage (47.3; 309-653), free throw percentage (78.1; 168-215) and rebounding defense (31.1; 373).
Katie Abrahamson-Henderson is 53-22 in her third year at the helm of the SMS program. Under Abrahamson-Henderson, the Lady Bears have won a MVC regular-season title, two MVC Tournament Championships, and made a pair of trips to the NCAA Tournament.
ABOUT THE SALUKIS
SIU has lost four games in a row and is searching for its first MVC win of the season.
Seniors Danette Jones (15.3 ppg) and Daphney Desamours (13.0 ppg) rank seventh and ninth in the league in scoring.
Although Jones tops the team in scoring through all games this season, it's Desamours who leads SIU in conference games with a 15.3 ppg mark.
SIU, who has struggled in its first three Valley games this season, is averaging 23 turnovers against league opponents alone.
