Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Women's Basketball Heads to Northern Iowa and Bradley
02/09/2005 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 9, 2005
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill.- Southern Illinois (3-17, 1-10) hits the road for a pair of games this week. The Salukis play at Northern Iowa (13-8, 7-3) on Thursday at 7:05 p.m., and Bradley (11-8, 4-6) on Saturday at 2:05 p.m.
SERIES HISTORY
SIU leads UNI by a count of 27-16. The Salukis, however, have lost 14 of their previous 15 games against the Panthers, including their last five straight. SIU hasn't beaten UNI in Cedar Falls since 1997. The Dawgs also lead their overall series against BU. Although it holds a 37-9 lead, SIU has suffered losses in seven of its last eight against the Braves.
LAST TIME OUT
League-leading Southwest Missouri State used a 23-5 run over the last 6:35 of the game to put SIU away, 89-63, on Feb. 5. The Salukis trailed by eight, before the Lady Bears stormed to their late-game rout.
ROUND ONE AGAINST UNI AND BU
SIU did not shoot a free throw or a three-pointer, and freshman India Bruster collected a double-double of 16 points and 13 rebounds in a 64-40 loss to UNI on Jan. 14 in Carbondale. Meanwhile, BU scored half of its points off turnovers en route to a 68-42 win over SIU on Jan. 16. SIU had 23 turnovers in that game, and was held to a mere five points in the first 11:15 of the second half.
TURNOVERS IMPROVE
Averaging 21 turnovers a game against Valley opponents entering its Feb. 3 game against Wichita State, 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 that game, the Salukis had only shot a combined 32-of-51 (62.7 percent) free throws combined to their opponents' 100-of-143 (70 percent) in seven games.
ABOUT NORTHERN IOWA
UNI has won three of its last four games and is coming off back-to-back wins against Drake (68-54) on Jan. 30 and Bradley (60-49) on Feb. 5. The Panthers are currently in third-place in the Valley standings. Alex Cook, Cassie Hager and Emily Berry all average double figures in the scoring column for UNI this season. Cook leads all scorers with 14 points per game, while Hager (13.2 ppg) and Berry (10.1 ppg) follow. Tony DiCecco is in his 10th season as the Panthers' head coach. He is 140-134 all-time at UNI, and is the school's all-time winningest women's basketball coach.
ABOUT BRADLEY
BU, who is sixth in the MVC, looks to snap a four-game losing streak this week. The Braves will also be looking to avenge a 78-75 loss to the Salukis last season in Peoria. Dena Williams and Genny Mueller top the Braves in scoring. Williams leads all scorers with 14.2 points a game, while Mueller follows with 11.9. As a team, the Braves are scoring 72.1 points a game and are shooting 75.5 percent at the free throw line.
KEEPING UP WITH JONES
Senior guard/forward Danette Jones leads the Salukis in scoring with 15.2 points per game. A native of Salem, Ill., she has been SIU's top scorer in all but eight games this season. Jones ranks among individuals in the MVC in several categories, including scoring (4th: 15.2 ppg), free throw percentage (9th; .804), three-point field goals made (1st; 2.75 avg) and minutes played (2nd; 36.7 avg).
JONES KEEPS ROLLING
SIU's top scoring threat, Danette Jones, has been on a tear ever since she was held scoreless in 12 minutes against Northern Iowa on Jan. 14. Since that time, she has recovered to score double figures in six consecutive games. However, in the last four outings, is where Jones has done some serious damage. A native of Salem, Ill., Jones shot a combined 27-of-56 (.482) from the field, 17-of-37 (.459) from three-point range and 13-of-16 (.813) at the free throw line in those contests. She also grabbed seven rebounds, dished out five assists and had two steals.
MORE ON JONES
SIU's number one long range threat, Danette Jones has knocked down 55 three-pointers this season, the most of any player in the Valley. Currently ranking 13th in the nation in three-pointers per game (2.8), she has drained five or more treys five times this season. She also knocked down a career-high seven threes (7-of-16) at Bethune-Cookman on Dec. 18.
ROLE REVERSAL
Daphney Desamours, who ranks as SIU's second-leading scorer this season, has been held out of the Salukis' starting lineup in each of the last three games. After starting 14 of the Dawgs' first 17 games at point guard to start the year, Desamours hasn't skipped a beat in her new role, especially in the last two games. Against Wichita State on Feb. 3, the native of Miami, Fla., scored 15 points in 11 minutes of the first half before finishing with 20 points. Then, she turned around to pitch in 12 points in 25 minutes against league-leading SMS (Feb. 5).
