Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Women's Basketball heads to Canada this weekend
09/02/2005 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Sept. 2, 2005
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill.-Southern Illinois will spend part of its preseason abroad when it heads to Toronto, Canada for a three-game exhibition tour over Labor Day weekend (Sept. 2-5).
Of the 12 Salukis listed on this year's roster, 10 are underclassmen, so the rare trip outside the United States should be a good team-bonding experience.
"This is valuable to us in terms of team chemistry and skill improvement," said head coach Dana Eikenberg. "It's also a great opportunity for our student-athletes to get to know each other."
Eikenberg got the idea from longtime University of Texas coach Jody Conradt, who took a young Longhorns squad on a trip to Canada before the 2004-05 season.
"Back in December when we were discussing how this program was going to shape, Coach Conradt suggested to me that if you ever have the opportunity to do something like this, you better take advantage of it," explained Eikenberg.
Once Eikenberg researched the trip and found that it fell within the program's budget, her dream became a reality.
The inexperienced Salukis, consisting of three returnees, four now-eligible transfers and five freshmen, will take on Brock University (Sept. 3), Wilfrid-Laurier University (Sept. 4) and the University of Guelph (Sept. 4).
NCAA regulations allowed SIU to practice 10 days prior to the foreign excursion, and you can expect the Dawgs to come out running when they take the floor in Toronto.
"We're going to try and open it up and let it go. We want to see what we have," Eikenberg said. "We don't want to limit our options."
SIU started its series of 10 practice sessions on August 24, and junior Carlai Moore says the opportunity to begin the season early is a nice advantage.
"I think the extra practices almost give us an edge," said Moore. "Now we have the chance to see how the 12 of us come together as a team."
The Salukis will also visit Niagara Falls during their stay in Toronto.
Full coverage of SIU's trip to Toronto can be accessed at www.siusalukis.com.
