Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Women's Basketball Hosts Second-Place SMS Saturday
02/04/2005 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 4, 2005
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill.- Southern Illinois (3-16, 1-9) remains at home to host second-place Southwest Missouri State (13-6, 8-2) on Saturday at 2:05 p.m. Anyone high school & under that brings a new Teddy Bear will get in the game free. Anyone accompanying the student will be admitted for only $1.00. Teddy Bears will then be delivered to children in local hospitals within the Southern Illinois area.
SERIES HISTORY
SIU trails its overall series against SMS, 30-22. The Salukis have dropped 16 straight games to the Lady Bears, including six by 30 or more points.
DAWGS WIN!!
SIU snapped a 10-game losing streak this season and a 12-game skid against Wichita State when it downed the Shockers, 70-43, Thursday at SIU Arena. The win was the Salukis' first in conference play under first-year head coach Dana Eikenberg.
LAST TIME OUT
SIU shot 45.8 percent from the field, forced 22 turnovers and had four players score double figures in what appeared to be the Salukis' best all-around performance of the season Thursday against Wichita State. Danette Jones led all SIU scorers with 21 points, including 18 in the second half. Meanwhile, Daphney Desamours followed close behind with 20 points off the bench.
TURNOVERS IMPROVE
Averaging 21 turnovers a game against Valley opponents entering Thursday's game, SIU turned the ball over a season-low 12 times against the Shockers. The Salukis only had five miscues in the game's final 20 minutes.
FREE THROWS HELP TOO
SIU shot 85.7 percent (22-of-26) at the free throw line against Wichita State (2/3). Prior to Thursday's game, the Salukis had only shot a combined 32-of-51 (62.7 percent) free throws combined opponents' 100-of-143 (70 percent) in a seven-game span.
SCOUTING SMS
SMS dropped to second-place in the league standings after suffering a 63-61 loss at Evansville Thursday. The Lady Bears, who had won seven straight games prior to Thursday's matchup, lost on a buzzer-beating three-pointer with six-tenths of a second left.
The Lady Bears bring several scoring threats to Carbondale this weekend. Namely, Jenni Lingor, Kari Koch, Nicole Lehman and K.C. Cowgill, who all average double figures for SMS.
Lingor tops the conference in scoring with 20.8 points per game. Koch, on the other hand, averages 14.2 points, while Lehman and Cowgill each pitch in 10.
SMS is shooting both a MVC-leading 47.8 percent (500-of-1046) from the field and 44.3 percent (168-of-379) from three-point range on the year. Lingor (43) and Cowgill (46) have accounted for over half of SMS' treys this season.
ABOUT THE SALUKIS
SIU looks to win its second straight game after beating Wichita State for its first conference win Thursday.
Seniors Danette Jones and Daphney Desamours are coming off big performances against the Shockers. Jones led the Salukis with 21 points, while Desamours followed close behind with 20.
Elyse Morris (11) and Lecretia Akines (10) also chipped in 10 or more points to mark the first time SIU had four players score in double-digits this season.
Playing with only eight players this season, SIU is averaging 53.9 points a game and is shooting under 40 percent from the field and from behind the three-point arc. Also, the Salukis are shooting 69 percent at the free throw line.
KEEPING UP WITH JONES
Senior guard/forward Danette Jones leads the Salukis in scoring with 14.8 points per game. A native of Salem, Ill., she has been SIU's top scorer 11 of 19 times this season. Jones ranks among individuals in the MVC in several categories, including scoring (4th: 14.8 ppg), free throw percentage (6th; .824), three-point field goals made (1st; 2.63 avg) and minutes played (2nd; 36.5 avg). In addition, she has scored double figures in three straight games, including two of 21 or more points.
MORE ON JONES
SIU's number one long range threat, Danette Jones has knocked down 50 three-pointers this season, which rank as the most of any player in the Valley. Currently ranking tied for 22nd in the nation in three-pointers per game, she has drained five or more treys three times this season. She also knocked down a career-high seven threes (7-of-16) at Bethune-Cookman on Dec. 18.
DESAMOURS PRODUCES
SIU's second-leading scorer, Daphney Desamours, who hasn't been in the Saluki starting lineup as of late, came off the bench to score 20 points, including 15 in the first half against Wichita State (2/3). A native of Miami, Fla., Desamours scored 12 of her points to fuel a 15-2 run early in the first half. Also, she ended up shooting a career-high 12-of-14 at the free throw line.
HATS OFF TO MORRIS AND AKINES
As mentioned, Elyse Morris and Lecretia Akines also had nice showings against Wichita State Thursday. Morris shot 5-of-11 from the field en route to 11 points, while Akines netted 4-of-7 field goals for 10 points. For Akines, her 10 points tied a career-high.
