Women's Basketball to host Murray State Saturday
12/17/2009 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 17, 2009
www.SIUSalukis.com
GAME FACTS
Date: December 19, 8:05 p.m.
Location: Carbondale, Ill.
Site: SIU Arena (9,409)
The Series: SIU leads MSU, 32-4
Head Coaches: Missy Tiber (167-77 overall, 0-7 at SIU); Rob Cross (27-14 overall and at MSU)
Radio: 810 AM, Patrick Erickson (play-by-play), Sean Patrick (color)
Gametracker: www.SIUSalukis.com
Video Streaming: www.stretchinternet.com/siuvideo.html
Game Notes: Click Here
DAWG BITES
The Southern Illinois Basketball team is in its 51st year of existence... Head Coach Missy Tiber is in her first season with the team and holds a 167-77 (.684) career record entering her ninth season as a head coach... last season the Salukis finished with a 9-19 record and were 5-13 in MVC play, eighth in the Missouri Valley Conference... Southern returns four letterwinners and one starter from the 2008-09 squad and welcomes five transfers and four freshmen.
SCOUTING MURRAY STATE
The Racers entered the 2009-10 season with one returning starter and seven returning letterwinners. MSU, led by Rob Cross in his second season, recorded a 23-9 record overall last year and a first-place finish in the Ohio Valley Conference (16-2). This season, the Racers are 4-6 currently on a six-game losing streak, most recently losing to MVC foe Missouri State, 76-70. MSU is led by Mariah Robinson averaging 10.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.4 steals per contest, missing the Racers last three days. Rachael Isom pitches in 10.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals and assists per game. Mallory Luckett produces a team-high 7.9 rebounds per game, adding 8.0 points and 5.3 assists each time out.
SERIES WITH MSU
SIU leads the series with MSU, 32-4, taking 16 straight meetings with the Racers. SIU won the last meeting, 77-68, at SIU Arena in 2006.
NEPTUNE RANKS IN LEAGUE
Saluki senior point guard Stephany Neptune played her first three seasons at forward for Missy Tiber at Tusculum earning DII All-American honors. Having already receiving her degree from TC, Neptune decided to move to SIU with Tiber. After six games this season, she is ranked in The Valley in eight statistical categories including rebounding (2nd, 9.0 rpg), field goal percentage (9th, 47.6%), assists (2nd, 5.0 apg), steals (5th, 2.3 spg), blocked shots (5th, 1.6 bpg), assist to turnover ratio (7th, 0.8), defensive rebounds (1st, 7.7 rpg) and minutes (7th, 33.7 mpg).
WAGS MAKES SMOOTH TRANSITION
Senior guard/forward Katie Wagner spent the last four years as an infielder on the Southern Illinois softball team before deciding to make the transition back to the basketball court after a successful high school career at Mt. Vernon. In six games this season she averages 2.6 points, 3.1 rebounds in 20.0 minutes per game.
PRESS-ING ON
Saluki guard Christine Presswood put up a double-double in SIU's first exhibition game before suffering an eye injury prior to the second exhibition contest. After surgery, the senior was fitted with a mask and made her regular-season debut against Northern Illinois Sunday, Nov. 21. After five games, she leads the team with 14.8 points and 3.6 rebounds in 32.6 minutes per game.
HAMBRICK CONTRIBUTES
Saluki forward Latoya Hambrick is contributing significant minutes and started two games this season after seeing action in just three games last season. The sophomore averages 2.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 14.0 minutes per contest.
OPPONENTS AT THE LINE
In seven games this season the Salukis' opponents are 118-of-179 from the free throw line .659 for the season. SIU is sending their opponents to the line an average of 25.6 times per game, averaging 23.3 fouls per contest.
OPPONENTS' BENCH
The Saluki bench has been out-scored in all six games this season, 123-to-60, 30 of those points scored by Vanderbilt's bench in Southern's home opener.
IDENTICAL START
The last time the Salukis started the season 0-7 was back in the 2003-04 season under Lori Opp. This season the Salukis have played five games on the road and two at home, while the 03-04 team played its first six contests on the road and seventh at home.
TIBER TAKES THE REIGNS
Missy Tiber, the Salukis new head coach, is no stranger to success. In eight years at the Division II level at two different schools (Belmont Abbey and Tusculum), Tiber recorded a 167-70 (.705) record, three conference championships and three NCAA tournament appearances.
REED, GRIFFITH OUT FOR SEASON
Freshman guard Renee Reed and junior forward Adrianne Griffith suffered preseason knee injuries requiring surgery and will sit out the 2009-10 season.
SALUKIS WELCOME NINE
The Southern Illinois women's basketball team welcome nine newcomers for the 2009-10 season including two fresh faces to the senior class including former Saluki softball player Katie Wagner and Division II All-American Stephany Neptune. SIU also adds two junior college transfers and four freshmen. Nicole Howe will make her first appearance as a Saluki this season after sitting out the 2008-09 season with a knee injury.
HOME SWEET HOME
The Salukis were 8-5 playing at SIU Arena last season, including winning three of four games at home during a four-game home stand Jan. 29 through Feb. 7, the longest of the season.
NEPTUNE NAMED N.O.W.
Saluki senior point guard Stephany Neptune was named the MVC Newcomer of the Week Nov. 23, after averaging a double-double in two games this week, posting 10.0 points, 12.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 2.5 steals and 0.5 blocks, shooting 57 percent (8-14) from the field in games against No. 18/22 Vanderbilt and Northern Illinois.
SALUKIS PICKED 10TH IN PRESEASON POLL
Creighton, which returns a veteran backcourt and solid depth from last year's second-place Missouri Valley Conference finisher, has been tabbed as the preseason favorite in the MVC's women's basketball race in the annual survey of the league's coaches, sports information directors and media members. Southern Illinois (10th, 61 points), under the direction of new head coach Missy Tiber, welcomes back one starter and four letterwinners from last season's team.
IN DECEMBER
SIU is 93-100 all-time in the month of December.
SALUKI RADIO NETWORK
Women's basketball games will be broadcast throughout the season on WDDD-AM 810, and streamed on the website at www.siusalukis.com. Patrick Erickson is in his second season as the full time radio broadcaster for Saluki Women's Basketball. Sean Patrick will take over as color commentator.
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.