Women's Basketball plays Saint Louis at Savvis Center Thursday
12/20/2005 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 20, 2005
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By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
Date: Thursday, Dec. 22
Tip Off: 5 p.m., CST
Site: Savvis Center (20,000), St. Louis, Mo.
The Series: SIU leads, 11-4
Head Coaches: SIU: Dana Eikenberg (7-28/2nd Year)
SLU: Shimmy Gray (1-7/1st Year)
Rankings: Neither team is ranked
Audio Webcast:www.siusalukis.com
Livestats: www.slubillikens.com
Road Woes
SIU has lost 13 of its last 14 games on the road. The Salukis entered their 2005-06 season with a 10-game losing streak away from home, but ended that with a 94-77 win at Murray State on Nov. 22. SIU is currently 1-3 in away games this season.
Youth Movement
SIU and SLU are in the process of rebuilding their respective programs and have a lot of youth and inexperience on the court this season. The Salukis feature 10 underclassmen, including five sophomores and five freshmen. SLU has eight underclassmen, consisting of five sophomores and three freshmen. Each team's roster goes 12 members deep and has only one senior, as well.
Remember Me?
First-year SLU assistant coach Petra Jackson was a standout guard at SIU from 1982-86. She finished her Saluki career with 1,475 points and still ranks fourth all-time on the school's scoring list. Jackson holds SIU's record for career field goals made (650) and is fourth all-time in steals (189). She was a first-team all-MVC selection and SIU's Most Valuable Player as™™ a senior. In 1991, she was inducted into the SIU Hall of Fame. Following her collegiate playing days, Jackson played professional basketball in the Women's Basketball Association from 1993-95.
Series History
SIU won eight of its last 11, including three-straight against SLU. The Salukis, who hold an 11-4 series lead, posted one of their three wins in each of the last two seasons against the Billikens, including a 69-53 win in Carbondale (2004-05) and a 68-65 victory in St. Louis (2003-04). Additionally, SIU and SLU have never played each other at the Savvis Center.
Non-Conference Winding Down
The Salukis close out non-conference play against Saint Louis this week. SIU will then break for the holidays, before opening MVC play on the road at Illinois State (Dec. 30) and preseason conference favorite Indiana State (Jan. 1).
Five Golden Wins...ba, dum, dum, dum
With a win against SLU Thursday, SIU will post its first non-conference winning season in 10 years. The Salukis' best non-league start prior to this year was 5-3 in 1994-95.
How's this for Starters?
SIU saw four of its five starters pitch in double figures for the second time this season Sunday against Missouri. Carlai Moore paved the way with 18 points, while Elyse Morris followed with 14, Erin Pauk added 11 and Jayme Sweere chipped in 10. Four Saluki starters also scored double figures against Indiana on Dec. 2.
Let's Talk Transfers
As expected, UMKC transfers Carlai Moore, Jayme Sweere and Erin Pauk are making a big impact in their SIU debuts this season. Moore leads the Salukis in scoring with 16.6 points per game, while Sweere and Pauk follow with 13.6 and 12.5 points, respectively. All three have combined for 342 of the team's 557 points through eight games this season. Not to mention, each have scored double figures in all but two games this year.
Tell Me Moore
Carlai Moore scored 18 points to lead four Saluki starters in double figures Sunday against Big 12 Conference foe Missouri. She shot 7-of-14 from the field and a perfect 4-of-4 at the free throw line, while grabbing four rebounds, dishing out two assists and posting one steal in 24 minutes. Moore, who got into early foul trouble, scored 12 second half points after being limited to six in the opening stanza. She has now scored double figures in all but one of SIU's games this season.
How May I Assist You?
Jayme Sweere dished out six or more assists in each of the last two games. Averaging nearly four assists (3.8) per game, Sweere recently had a career-high eight dishes against Missouri on Dec. 18. Prior to that, she had six against South Dakota State on Dec. 10. A native of Springfield, Mo., Sweere leads the Salukis with 30 assists this season.
Morris Effective in Starting Role
Since joining the starting lineup on Dec. 2, sophomore Elyse Morris has pitched in double figures in three of four starts for the Dawgs. Morris, who is SIU's leading rebounder with 6.1 boards a game, is recently coming off a 14-point effort against Missouri Sunday. She has made 17-of-38 (44.7 percent) field goals, seven three-pointers and two free throws, while pulling down 23 rebounds, dishing out nine assists and posting one steal in her first four starts this year. Morris started 26 of 27 games for SIU last season.
About the Billikens
First Year in A-10: SLU is in its first season as a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference. Last season, the A-10 sent four teams to the NCAA Tournament and one to the WNIT. Temple won both the regular season and tournament crowns last season and is the preseason pick to win the league this year. Scouting Report: SLU is off to a 1-7 start under first-year head coach Shimmy Gray, who replaced 10-year Billiken veteran Jill Pizzotti. SLU, who carries a six-game losing streak into Thursday's matchup, posted its only win against Yale (65-50) on Nov. 25. Junior guards Tyler McIlwraith (13.8 ppg) and Rachel Diener (10.5 ppg) currently lead SLU in scoring, as the Billikens average 57.4 points a game as a team. Last Time Out: SLU dropped a 77-65 decision on the road against Bradley Sunday. The Billikens remained winless away from home at 0-3 this season.
Conference Race Begins
SIU opens its 18-game conference season on the road at Illinois State (Dec. 30) and Indiana State (Jan. 1).Both games will be broadcast live on either WUEZ 95.1 FM or WCIL 1020 AM. Check the schedule for verification.
