Women's Basketball faces Northern Illinois seeking first win
11/17/2010 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 17, 2010
By Bill Ford
SIUSalukis.com
GAME INFORMATION
Date: Friday, Nov. 19
Time: 7:05 p.m. CST
Location: Carbondale, Ill.
Site: SIU Arena (8,500)
Radio: 810 WDDD-AM
Play-by-play by Patrick Erickson
Color commentary by Johnny Sole
SIU Game Notes
Northern Illinois Game Notes
Live Stats (free)
Game Central video (subscription)
TEAM FACTS
Southern Illinois Salukis (0-2)
Head Coach: Missy Tiber, Second Year (172-96 overall, 5-26 at SIU)
Northern Illinois Huskies (2-1)
Head Coach: Kathi Bennett (298-179 overall and 2-1 at TSU)
SCOUTING NORTHERN ILLINOIS
The Huskies enter Friday's matchup on a 2-game winning streak, having posted consecutive wins over George Washington and Western Illinois. NIU has three players averaging double-digit scoring, led by senior Marke Freeman's 19.3 points per game. Freeman scored 26 points Tuesday night against WIU. The Huskies are in their first year under veteran head coach Kathi Bennett, who came to Northern with 17 years as a head coach under her belt.
SERIES WITH NORTHERN ILLINOIS
Northern Illinois leads the all-time series 12-11 after defeating the Salukis 74-65 last season in DeKalb.
SALUKIS DROP 2ND STRAIGHT
Despite a 12-rebound advantage and a double-double from Charnise Mitchell, SIU fell to Tennessee State 57-43 Tuesday night at SIU arena. The Salukis shot just 23.2 percent from the field on 13-of-56 shooting, but out-rebounded the Lady Tigers 51-39. Mitchell had her first Saluki double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds while Teri Oliver and Eboni Crayton both added six points and CiCi Shannon pulled down 10 rebounds.
STARTING COLD
In its first two games of the season, SIU has struggled offensively in the first half before turning things up in the second. In the season-opener against UT Martin, the Salukis scored just 15 points in the first half on 6-of-29 shooting (20.7 percent) before scoring 35 in the second. Tuesday night, SIU put up 17 first-half points on 4-of-31 shooting before improving to a 26-point output after the break.
DAWGS GET DEFENSIVE
Despite their offensive struggles in an 0-2 start, the Salukis have been able to hang their hats on a tough defense that ranks fourth in the Missouri Valley Conference through Tuesday's games. The Salukis are holding opponents to an average of 59.5 points per game.
SALUKIS CRASH THE BOARDS
Another highlight for the Salukis in a slow start has been the team's ability to hit the offensive glass. The Salukis collected 22 offensive rebounds against Tennessee State Tuesday night while allowing the Lady Tigers 11. Overall, SIU is even against its opponents on the boards with a plus-four advantage on the offensive glass. Currently, Southern is tied for first in the MVC with an average of 18.0 offensive rebounds per game.
TWO FOR 10 REBOUNDING
SIU had two players register in double figures rebounding against Tennessee State with Charnise Mitchell and CiCi Shannon both collecting 10 boards. This marked the first time the Salukis have had multiple double-digit rebounders since Nov. 19, 2008 when Katrina Swingler had 11 and Jasmine Gibson had 15 against Arkansas State.
DOUBLING UP
SIU has had a player with a double-double in both of its first two games. Charnise Mitchell doubled up against Tennessee State with 11 points and 10 rebounds while Katrina Swingler opened the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds against UT Martin.
TROUBLING TREYS
SIU went 0-for-15 from the 3-point line against Tennessee State marking the first time the Salukis have failed to convert a 3-pointer since Feb. 4, 2006 when Southern went 0-for-3 against Northern Iowa.
SALUKIS VS. THE STATE
Southern Illinois is 226-126 all-time versus other schools in the state of Illinois. The Salukis have five games scheduled against three in-state opponents (Northern Illinois, Illinois State and Bradley) this season.
DAWG BITES
The Southern Illinois Basketball team is in its 52nd year of existence. Head Coach Missy Tiber is in her second season with the team and holds a 172-96 (.642) career record in her 10th season as a head coach. Last season the Salukis finished with a 5-24 record and were 4-14 in the Missouri Valley Conference. Southern returns five letterwinners and two starters from the 2009-10 squad and welcomes three transfers and eight freshmen.