Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Women's Basketball travels to Evansville Saturday
01/26/2006 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 26, 2006
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Date: Saturday, Jan. 28, 2006
Tip Off: 2 p.m., CST
Site: Roberts Stadium (Evansville, Ind.)
The Series: SIU leads, 16-14
Head Coaches: SIU: Dana Eikenberg (11-33, 5-21 MVC/2nd Year)
UE: Tricia Cullop (76-81, 43-55 MVC/3rd Year)
Rankings: Neither team is ranked
Audio Webcast: www.siusalukis.com
Dawgs .500 in the Valley
SIU moved to 4-4 in league play when it beat both Creighton (1/19) and Drake (1/21) in Carbondale for the first time since 1996. The Salukis, who moved to sixth-place in the Valley, improved to 6-2 at home this year.
Full Head of Steam
The Salukis carry a two-game winning streak to Evansville after their big wins last week. Hopefully, the momentum from those victories can help SIU end its current three-game losing skid on the road in league play.
The Last Time . . .
SIU beat an MVC opponent on the road was Dec. 30, when it took down Illinois State, 87-65, to open the conference season. Prior to that win, the Salukis hadn't won a conference road game by 22 or more points since they defeated Northern Iowa, 83-59, on Jan. 20, 1996. SIU's 87 points against the Redbirds marked the most in a conference game since the Salukis had 84 in a 98-84 loss to Indiana State on Feb. 12, 2004.
Swarming Salukis
SIU has turned it up defensively in the last three games, where it's forcing 19.3 turnovers. The Saluki defense smothered Wichita State (23) and Creighton (22) into 22 or more turnovers, while Drake committed 13. SIU also averages eight steals in those outings, as its last six league foes haven't scored more than 69 points.
Headed in the Right Direction
When you compare Dana Eikenberg's dramatic four-year stint at UMKC to what she has accomplished at SIU thus far, you can clearly see Eikenberg has the Dawgs headed in the right direction. Here is a breakdown of those trends:
At UMKC
2000-01: 2-25, 2-14 (9th)
2001-02: 7-21, 3-11 (8th)
2002-03: 14-14, 8-6 (t2nd)
2003-04: 15-14, 11-5 (2nd)
(Mid-Con Finish in parentheses)
At SIU
2004-05: 3-24, 1-17 (10th)
2005-06: 8-9, 4-4
(currently 6th in MVC)
Anyone up for Another?
If SIU beats Evansville Saturday, the Salukis will finish the first half of league play with a winning record for the first time since 1996-97. That year, SIU opened the conference season at 5-4 through its first nine games.
Did You Know . . .
SIU beat Evansville, 82-77 (Mar. 3), to earn its fourth Valley win during the last game of the 2000-01 season? The Salukis already have four MVC wins under Dana Eikenberg this year, and they're not even into the month of February.
That's Awesome!
SIU ended a 19-game losing streak against Drake, when it downed the Bulldogs, 74-66, on Jan. 21. That losing streak was the longest any Valley opponent had against SIU entering the 2005-06 season.
Parker, Gibson, Take a Bow
Freshmen Teresa Parker and Erica Smith have started the last two games, and SIU is 2-0 with them in the lineup. A native of Pequot Lakes, Minn., Parker scored six points and pulled down a career-high 10 rebounds against Drake. Smith, who hails from St. Louis, Mo., added four assists and three boards against the Bulldogs, as well. Not to mention, the two stepped up with double-digit scoring performances during the Missouri State/Wichita State road swing to warrant their starts.
Series History
SIU leads the overall series against Evansville, 16-14, but has dropped its last three games to the Aces. The Salukis have also lost seven-straight at Roberts Stadium, where they haven't won since 1998 (72-68).
Moore Garners Second MVC Newcomer-of-the-Week honor
Carlai Moore averaged 20 points in two games last week to earn her second MVC Newcomer-of-the-Week award this season. A native of Kansas City, Kan., Moore opened the week by hitting 12-of-19 (.632) field goals and 2-of-3 free throws en route to 26 points against Creighton. It was her fourth-straight 20-plus point effort at the time. Two days later, she turned around to pitch in 14 points on 6-of-12 (.500) from the field and 2-of-2 from the stripe against Drake. Moore also had five rebounds, one block and three steals on the week.
Twenties Only Please
Carlai Moore scored 20 or more points in all but three Valley games this year. She has scored double-digits in 16 of SIU's 17 games, including a career and league high 31 points against Illinois State on Dec. 30. Moore also pitched in 20 or more points four of her last five games, and had a double-double 23 points, 11 rebounds at Wichita State on Jan. 14.
Moore's Red-Hot Streak Ends
Carlai Moore was SIU's leading scorer for 10-straight games before Jayme Sweere scored 24 points to top the Dawgs against Drake on Jan. 21. Moore scored 20 or more points seven times during that stretch, including a career and league high of 31 against Illinois State (Dec. 30). She became the first Saluki to lead her team in scoring for nine or more consecutive games since Terica Hatahway did it nine times in a row from Jan. 9- Feb. 6, 1999.
300 Point Club
Carlai Moore ranks second in the Valley in scoring (19.1 ppg) and leads the league in field goal percentage (.570) this season. She also has 325 points, marking the most in a season since Molly McDowell scored 407 in 2002-03.
Gibson Rolls
Jasmine Gibson has scored double figures seven times this year, including six off the bench. Gibson made her way into the starting lineup against Illinois State on Dec. 30, and started six-straight games. During that time she only averaged six points and pitched in double-digits once. As a reserve, Gibson has scored double figures on six occasions, including two last week.
Mixing it Up
Saluki head coach Dana Eikenberg started two freshmen for the first time this season against Creighton (1/19). Rookies Teresa Parker and Erica Smith made their first career starts. They replaced Jasmine Gibson and Jayme Sweere in the lineup. Eikenberg has used five different lineup combinations this year.
Balancing Act
SIU had four players reach double figures in the scoring column in back-to-back games last week. Carlai Moore (26), Jayme Sweere (12), Jasmine Gibson (12) and Elyse Morris (10) paved the way against Creighton. Against Drake, it was Sweere (24), Erin Pauk (18), Moore (14) and Gibson (10) who keyed the win. Four or more Salukis scored double-digits in six games this year and SIU is 4-2 in those contests.
Defending the Trey
The Salukis are second in the MVC in three-point field goal percentage defense after 17 games this season. SIU's opponents are averaging just 3.5 treys per game for a mere 28.9 percent (59-of-204). The Dawgs limited their first eight conference opponents to 25-of-95 (26.3 percent) threes.
NCAA National Statistics Update
In the latest NCAA Division I women's basketball statistics released on Jan. 23, Carlai Moore is tied for 25th in scoring (19.1 ppg) and 19th in field goal percentage (.570, minimum of 5 FG made per game).
Back on Track
Erin Pauk went scoreless twice and was held under 10 points on six occasions through her first seven conference games, before scoring 18 points against Drake. Pauk broke out of her slow league start by knocking down a near-perfect 12-of-13 free throws en route to her second double-digit effort in Valley play this year.
About the Aces
Like SIU, Evansville also enters the weekend fresh off back-to-back wins against Creighton and Drake. With the help of those wins, UE took over second-place in the league standings at 9-8 overall, 5-3 in the MVC. The Purple Aces, who are led by Megan Liffick (16.8 ppg) and Rebekah Parker (10.3 ppg), have only lost one conference game at home (4-1). As a team, UE is limiting its opponents to a league-leading 38.6 percent from the field this year. The Aces also top the conference with 17 offensive boards a game.
