Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Women's Basketball hosts Drake, Creighton this weekend
01/16/2008 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 16, 2008
www.siusalukis.com
Game Facts
Date: Friday, January 18 & Sunday, January 20
Tip Off: 7:30 p.m. CST/2:05 p.m. CST
Site: Carbondale, Ill. - SIU Arena (9,386)
The Series: SIU trails DU, 23-39/SIU trails CU 14-23
Head Coaches: SIU: Dana Eikenberg (78-135 overall, 40-61 at SIU)
DU: Amy Stephens (268-108 overall, 71-65 at DU)
CU: Jim Flannery (97-73 overall and at CU)
Radio: WUEZ - FM 95.1 (Friday), WCIL - AM 1020 (Sunday)
TV: Fox Sports(Friday)
Video Stream: DawgWatch.tv (Sunday only) Audio: www.SIUSalukis.com
Livestats: www.SIUSalukis.com
Dawg Bites
The Southern Illinois Basketball team is in its 48th year of existence... Head Coach Dana Eikenberg is in her fourth season with the team and holds a 40-61 (.396) record... Last season the Salukis finished with a 21-11 record and were 16-2 in MVC play, earning their first regular season conference title in 17 years... Southern returned seven letterwinners and three starters from the 2006-07 squad and welcomed seven freshmen.
The Schedule
After splitting the first two weekends of Missouri Valley Conference play, the Salukis return home to host Drake and Creighton. The Bulldogs come to town Friday, Jan. 18 for "Pack the Dawg House" night in SIU Arena, tickets costing $1, tip-off at 7:30 p.m. on Fox Sports. Sunday, Jan. 20 at 2:05 p.m. the Bluejays come to town.
Scouting Drake
Drake returns all five starters from a team that went 14-19 overall and 5-11 in the Missouri Valley Conference a year ago, for a eighth-place finish. This season, the Bulldogs are 10-4 under fifth-year head coach Amy Stephens (71-65 at DU). DU is led by Jill Martin, who averages a team-high 16.9 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. Lindsay Whorton adds 15.3 points and a team-high 37 assists. Jordann Plummer adds a 10.3 points and a team-high 13 blocks and 31 steals.
Scouting Creighton
Creighton returns all five starters from a team that went 13-19 overall and 8-10 in the Missouri Valley Conference a year ago, for a sixth-place finish. This season, the Bluejays are 9-5 under sixth-year head coach Jim Flannery (97-73 at CU). CU is led by Sara Cain, who averages 10.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Ally Thrall adds 9.4 points and a team-high 45 assists. Sam Schuett adds a team-high 6.6 boards to go with 8.9 points per contest.
The Series
SIU trails the series against DU, 23-39. The Salukis swept the Bulldogs last year during the regular season, falling to them in the second round of the Missouri Valley Conference post season tournament. The Salukis also trail the series with Creighton, 14-23, sweeping the Bluejays last season.
Salukis Open Valley Play
The Southern Illinois women's basketball team began the defense of its 2006-07 Missouri Valley Conference title Jan. 3 when they opened Valley play against Indiana State with their third-straight league opening victory, 95-76. The Salukis wrapped up the first two weekends of MVC play 2-2.
Sweere 77 away from 1,000
Jayme Sweere is averaging 13.6 points this season, with 205 total through 14 games. The senior has recorded over 360 points in each of her first two seasons as a Saluki, bringing her career total to 923, just 77 away from the 1,000-point mark. Sweere is currently tied for 19th all-time in scoring at SIU, recently passing former teammate Carlai Moore (890). Sweere is also the 24th Saluki to hit 800 points in her career and is the 20th Saluki to hit the 900-point plateau. Sweere is the highest scoring-Saluki since Eikenberg took over the program in 2004-05 and will be the first SIU player since 2003 to hit the mark.
Double-digit Rebounds
Saluki forwards Jayme Sweere and Erica Smith each recorded double-digit rebounds in Southern's win over Wichita State Thursday, Jan. 10. Sweere recorded a career-high 16, the most by any Saluki since 2004, while Smith added 10. The duo recorded double-digit rebounds for the first time since 2003 when former Salukis Dana Pinkston (11) and Katie Berwanger (13) did the same. For five straight games, dating back to Dec. 29 against Wisconsin-Green Bay, the Salukis have put at least one player in double-digit boards.
Worden of 3-point land
For the second time this season, Tanaeya Worden put up five threes in a game, Thursday, Jan. 10 at Wichita State. The freshman shot 5-of-11 beyond the arc and put up nine threes on the weekend, adding four at Missouri State Saturday, Jan. 12. The rookie also put up five against Indiana State, combining with fellow freshman Ellen Young for a total of 10 on the night.
Five in double-digits
For the second time since this season, the Salukis put five players in double-digit scoring. Against Central Arkansas Saturday, Dec. 8. Jayme Sweere and Jasmine Gibson pitched in 21 points each, while Katrina Swingler added a career-high 13 and Ellen Young and Erica Smith scored 11 apiece. Thursday, Jan. 3 four of the five scored in double-digits again. Sweere (13), Gibson (17), Smith (14), Young (25) along Tanaeya Worden (17) all put up double digits in a big win over Indiana State.
All Six Wins Held Under 76
The SIU women's basketball team has held all six teams the Salukis' beat at 76 points or below this season. Last season, the Salukis held all teams under 75 points, going 21-11 overall.
3-1 in December
The Salukis started the month of December 3-0 for the first time since 1994. Southern's hopes of going undefeated in December for the first time since 1986 were dashed when they lost to UW-Green Bay in the final non-conference contest of the season Dec. 29 in SIU Arena.
Salukis Hold Cougars Under 50
The Saluki defense, giving up 69.7 points per game so far this season to rank eighth in the Missouri Valley Conference, looked much like the defensive team that was first in the league a year ago, holding a team under 50 points for the first time this season Monday, Dec. 17 against Chicago State, 70-49.
Gibson has Career Night, MVC POW
Southern Illinois women's basketball player Jasmine Gibson was named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week the league announced Wednesday. Gibson, a junior from Kansas City, Mo., averaged 24.0 points and 3.5 boards, shooting 60.6 percent from the field and 80 percent from the free throw line helping lead the Salukis to a 2-0 record this week, including a career high 31 points against Chicago State Dec. 17. The junior guard shot 12-of-21 from the field against the Cougars and nearly perfect (7-of-8) from the charity stripe in the win. She then turned around to record 18 at Tennessee Tech to help lead Southern past the Golden Eagles Dec. 21. The junior forward is ranked 28th in the nation in free throw percentage and 48th in scoring.
Salukis Add Hart
The Southern Illinois women's basketball team signed mid-season transfer Alex Hart head coach Dana Eikenberg announced. The freshman from Thornhill, Ontario, started practice with the Salukis Thursday, Dec. 20. The 5 foot, 8 inch guard, a two-time regional all-star at Crawford Academy, will aid the Saluki backcourt depleted by injuries this season.
Not so Young
Ellen Young may be a newcomer, just 14 games into her first collegiate season, but she isn't playing like one. The freshman earned George Washington Thanksgiving Classic All-Tournament Team honors after averaging 17.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, shooting 46 percent (13-of-28) from the field and an outstanding 55 percent (6-of-11) from 3-point range. The freshman recorded a career-high 26 points and five rebounds Nov. 28 at Austin Peay. She also ranks nationally in 3-point percentage at 42 percent.
Worden Newcomer of the Week
Southern Illinois freshman Tanaeya Worden was named MVC Newcomer of the Week after her first week of regular season play. She came off the bench for the Salukis in their opener against #25 DePaul to record 17 points, two steals and a rebound, despite playing with a cast on her arm. The newcomer shot 43 percent from the field in her first regular season showing, and 44 percent from three-point range. She averaged more than a point a minute in the game.
Salukis Ink two for 2008-09
Southern Illinois women's basketball head coach Dana Eikenberg and her staff sign two recruits from the state of Illinois for next season. Olivia Lett and Eryn Stepherson signed letters of intent to play for the Dawgs in 2008-09 Wednesday. Lett, a 5-11 guard from Pana, Ill., averaged 20.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.0 steals per game as a junior. She led her team to a 22-9 record last season already recording 1,774 career points, the most for boys or girls at Pana. Stepherson, a 5-10 guard from Edwardsville, Ill., averaged 8.2 points and shot 81 percent from the free throw line last season. A member of the varsity team since her freshman year of high school, she earned third-team All-SWC honors as a junior. She was also named to BlueStar Basketball's Top 250 2008 Graduates List.
Salukis picked 5th in preseason poll
The defending regular season Missouri Valley Conference women's basketball team, the Southern Illinois Salukis, were picked fifth in the 2007-08 Preseason Poll selected by coaches, media and sports information directors the league announced Tuesday at its annual basketball media day. For the second-straight year, Drake has been tabbed the No. 1 team in The Valley with 348 points in the poll and 24 first-place votes.
Eikenberg turns it around
In just three years, Saluki head coach Dana Eikenberg has done her best to turn the program around, starting 3-24 her first season, (10th of 10 teams in the MVC) to 10-18 (8th of 10 teams in the league) the following season. In 2006-07 SIU garnered a Missouri Valley Conference Championship and reached postseason play for the first time since 1992. The Salukis posted the 10th-best turnaround in the nation in 2006-07 under Eikenberg and continue to work toward improvement.
Senior Sweere
Saluki guard Jayme Sweere stepped up last season to lead the Salukis in steals (56) and blocks (24), second on the team in scoring (11.7 ppg) and assists (79). She produced a season-high 23 points twice to help pull the Salukis past Weber State on the road Dec. 2 and push Southern past Stephen F. Austin in the opening round of the WNIT. In league play the junior averaged 11.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, tallying 44 assists and 31 steals to earn second-team honors. She was top-15 in the league in scoring (14th), steals (5th) and blocks (8th).
First Postseason in 15 Years
The Salukis made their first postseason appearance in the Women's National Invitational Tournament in 2006-07 since they went to the NCAA tournament in 1992, losing in the second round to Ole Miss. SIU finished sixth in the Women's NIT in 1983, the team's last and only trip to the tournament. After the Salukis wrapped up play with a loss at Kansas State Mar. 17, the program is 4-7 overall in postseason play dating back to the team's first trip to the postseason in 1983.
2007 MVC Champs, Win Milestones
The Salukis wrapped up the 2006-07 season 21-11 overall and 16-2 in MVC play, hitting the 20-win plateau just the ninth time in program history and the first time since 1991-92 when SIU was 23-8. The 16 conference wins are the best since Southern went a perfect 18-0 in 1986-87.
No. 1 Scoring Defense in the League
The 2006-07 team built their season around defense, holding 23 teams under 70 points to hold the no. 1 scoring defense overall (60.2) and in league play (55.9).
Eikenberg `Rawlings' MVC Coach of the Year
Dana Eikenberg is the first SIU coach chosen since Cindy Scott collected the honor in 1986, then again in 1987.
MVC Champions
SIU wrapped up the regular-season conference championship Feb. 23 with a victory over Evansville at home. The Salukis took the regular-season title and the number one seed in the tournament for the first time in the MVC era and for the first time since they won 1989-90 Gateway title. The last time Southern won a conference title out right was back in 1986-87, 18-0 in league play.
Seven-team Sweep
With a wins over Wichita State and Missouri State Mar. 1 and 3, SIU swept its sixth and seventh MVC teams last season. The previous three weekends the Salukis wrapped up league sweeps of UNI, Bradley, Drake, Creighton and Evansville. This marks the first time since 1991-92 that SIU swept seven league opponents (WSU, DU, Eastern Illinois, ILS, INS, Western Illinois, BU).
Road Warriors
SIU wrapped up conference play on the road, 8-1, the team's best showing in MVC history. The Salukis fell at Indiana State on the road Feb. 2 for their only road blemish in league play. The Salukis are 8-1 on the road this season in conference play, sweeping three road swings for the first time in MVC history. Southern swept two Gateway Conference road trips in 1989-90.
Under 75
In all but one Saluki victory last season, the team held their opponents under 70 points. In a win on the road, Southern's defense gave up 74 points, winning by five against Northern Iowa, Jan. 13. The Salukis held four opponents to 41 points or below, picking up a big win over Missouri State Sat. Dec. 30, 63-38. It was the first time a SIU team held an opponent under 40 points since January, 1990 when they held Indiana State to 38 points under former Saluki head coach Cindy Scott. Most recently the Salukis held Wichita State to 39 points, winning by 33, 72-39.
Salukis snap league skids
• Jan. 13, Southern took a game from UNI, 79-74, the first game since 2002 and the first game in Cedar Falls since 1997.
• The Salukis snapped a 13-game losing streak to Indiana State dating back to 2000 when SIU beat INS in Terre Haute 64-62, Jan. 6. It was the first time Southern beat the Sycamores in SIU Arena in 21 tries, dating back to 1997.
• A week earlier SIU snapped losing streaks at Wichita State (Dec. 28) (won at WSU for first time since 1996) and Missouri State (Dec. 30) (19-game losing streak).
Radio
Mississippi River Radio will broadcast selected games throughout the 2007-08 Saluki women's basketball season. Mike Reis or Mike Murphy will call the play-by-play action with Julie Beck on color. These selected broadcasts can be heard locally on WCIL 1020 AM or WUEZ 95.1 FM. The radio feed can also be heard live on the athletics website at www.siusalukis.com, using QuickTime software.
www.siusalukis.com
The official website www.siusalukis.com is the best source for up-to-date information on the Saluki women's basketball team. Rosters, box scores, cumulative statistics, pre-game notes and other materials are available on the site. You will need Adobe Acrobat to read PDF files.
