Women's Basketball opens regular season play against #25 DePaul
11/08/2007 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 8, 2007
www.siusalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois women's basketball team opens the regular season Saturday, hosting the Blue Demons of DePaul at 7 p.m. in SIU Arena. With a ticket stub from the SIU/Illinois State football game, admission is $1.
After the best finish of a Southern Illinois women's basketball team since 1991-92 that included a 21-11 record, the regular season Missouri Valley Conference Championship and the 10th-best turnaround in the nation last season, the Salukis look to keep SIU on top under the watchful eye of fourth-year head coach Dana Eikenberg.
"It's a whole different team," Eikenberg said of her 2007-08 squad. "With the loss of Carlai Moore, you lose a great team player, someone with a lot of ability. We have to rely and count on a lot of help with offense and defense from different people this year, including Jayme Sweere, Erica Smtih and Jasmine Gibson. Also, some of our freshman are going to have to be able to step up and make some things happen."
The Salukis head into the season without two-time All-MVC forward Moore who graduated from SIU as the school's all-time leading scorer as a transfer with 890 career points. Last season she was the first Saluki since 1998-99 to represent the Salukis in MVC balloting on the first team.
Sweere and Smith, also All-MVC picks a year ago, return to lead the Saluki guards. Sweere was named second-team all-conference and to the all-defensive team, while Smith, the top-rebounding guard in the conference, earned honorable mention honors.
The Salukis return three of five starters from last season's team along with four key contributors off the bench. They also add six freshmen to a 13-player roster for the upcoming season.
Backcourt
Junior Erica Smith and senior Erin Pauk return to lead the Saluki backcourt along with incoming freshman Tanaeya Worden (Sioux City, Ill.).
Smith earned the starting spot a year ago nine games into the season, leading the Salukis in rebounds (5.3 rpg) and assists (85). Eikenberg feels the junior is a threat with her athleticism and quickness at the point.
"Smith is a threat that was thrust into a point guard position last year," Eikenberg said. "I thought that she did a very good job for not having much background. We're making her a lot more offensive-minded this year and, over the summer she's worked very hard to develop that. You'll see a much different role for her as well. Defensively she'll continue to be our stopper who initiates all the things that we like to do and how much pressure we want to place on the ball."
Pauk came of the bench to spark the Salukis averaging 4.2 points and 2.0 rebounds with 69 assists as a junior.
"Pauk, a fifth year veteran, is a solid point guard and had a decent season last year," Eikenberg said. "She has to continue to give us high basketball IQ and really continue to challenge Erica in helping solidify our backcourt."
Worden, a freshman from Sioux City North High School in Iowa led her team to the Class 4A state title last season, averaging 15 point per game for the Stars. The coaching staff really likes what they've seen out of the newcomer.
"She's really quick with the ball," Eikenberg said. "She's looking to score and really has a great attitude about being coachable right now."
Perimeter
Senior Jayme Sweere, who started all 32 games last season, led the Salukis in blocks and steals and will be the Salukis' go-to this year.
"Obviously Jayme Sweere is a leader," Eikenberg said. "She'll probably be picked as one of the top guards in the Valley. Her size and strength, along with her ability to take over a game, will be counted on this year. She'll have a lot more touches."
Along with Sweere, the Salukis will look to Debbie Burris, Kaci Bailey and newcomers Brenna Saline (Galesburg, Ill.) and Ellen Young (Salem, Ill.).
Burris, a junior college transfer last season, led the Salukis with 53 3-pointers, starting all 32 games for SIU.
Bailey, who came off the bench, playing 29 games as a sophomore will continue to fill that role as a shooter.
"We would like to see Brenna and Kaci be able to backup what Debbie does and be able to shoot the ball," Eikenberg said. "Both of them have high basketball IQ and we need them to play their roles."
Young, the all-time leading scorer at Salem Community High School will also contribute
"Young just has a great ability to significantly factor into the game and has great ups," Eikenberg said of the newcomer. "She can really make a lot of things happen on the court. Defensively, she has a lot to learn and has a great work ethic. Ellen will be a special guard to watch."
Frontcourt
Led by junior Jasmine Gibson, the Saluki frontcourt will see some change this season with the loss of Moore. Senior Cortney Sales will step up along with freshmen Paris Campbell and Katrina Swingler.
Gibson played in all 32 games last season, averaging 7.9 points and 3.7 boards per game.
"Jazz has made great improvements every year," Eikenberg said. "We need her to take another step and really be an offensive scoring threat from a lot of different areas including the outside shot. She's got to take her game to another level offensively. I think her athleticism is hard for people to guard."
Sales, a contributor off the bench as a junior, played in 28 games recording 50 rebounds on the season. Now in the system a year, the coaching staff will expect her to step up.
"Cortney has a chance to be a major difference maker if her mindset will let her," Eikenberg said of the junior college transfer. "She's a true low-block kid and very explosive. She has to understand both ends of the court and play with the mentality of getting to the rim. If she can do those things she'll be a very nice surprise for us."
Swingler, a 6-0 forward from Teutopolis High School and Campbell, a 6-2 center from Whitney M. Young High School in Chicago will have to contribute in the front court for the Salukis.
"We're not very deep in the front court so they will have to contribute," Eikenberg said. "I know it's a development process with post players. It's an understanding, playing at the level you need to play, and both of them have great potential. I need them to be able to defend, and react and think."