Salukis end month-long road trip at Drake on Sunday
01/10/2015 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
| Game 14: Southern Illinois (8-5, 1-1 MVC) at Drake (8-6, 3-0 MVC) | |
| Date | Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015 |
| Time | 2:05 p.m. CST |
| Location | Des Moines, Iowa -- Knapp Center (7,152) |
| Video | True Blue TV (subscription) |
| Radio | WVZA 105.1 FM (1:45 airtime) |
| Audio Stream | Stretch Internet (free) |
| Notes | Southern Illinois | Drake | Missouri Valley |
| Season Stats | Southern Illinois | Drake | Missouri Valley |
| Live Stats | MVC Scoreboard |
| SIU Media Guide | Media Guide |
| Social Media | @SIU_WBasketball  | Facebook  |
By Tyler Wooten
SIUSalukis.com
DES MOINES, Iowa -- The Saluki women's basketball team is looking to bounce back from a loss at Northern Iowa on Friday when it will take on Drake on Sunday afternoon at the Knapp Center.
TEAM FACTS
Southern Illinois Salukis (8-5, 1-1 MVC)
Head Coach: Cindy Stein • Second season • 295-236 career record (18th season) • 13-30 at SIU
Drake Bulldogs (8-6, 3-0 MVC)
Head Coach: Jennie Baranczyk • Third season • 36-41 career record (third season) • 36-41 at Drake
ON THE AIR
Radio: WVZA 105.1 FM
TV: None
Video Stream: True Blue TV (GoDrakeBulldogs.com, subscription)
Audio Stream: Stretch Internet (free)
Play-by-Play: Bryce Williams (third season)
NOTES
SERIES HISTORY
In 77 total meetings, the Bulldogs hold a 51-26 advantage over SIU. The series dates back to 1979, just four years before both schools began play in the Gateway Conference. Drake has won seven of the last 10 contests against the Salukis. Furthermore, SIU has not won in Des Moines since Feb. 16, 2007.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Drake is 8-6 on the year and 3-0 in the Valley on their current three-game winning streak against Loyola (86-60), Bradley (80-47) and Illinois State (86-51). The Bulldogs started 1-4 but have had one of the tougher schedules in the conference, which includes a win over Wisconsin (89-77) and a close loss to No. 23 Iowa (100-98). Offensively, the Bulldogs have an absurd lead in the conference in points per game at 77.4 (SIU is in second at 67.1). In Valley games alone the Bulldogs are putting up 84.0 points per game. The Drake offense is the driving force for the Bulldogs, who also lead in field goal percentage (.453; SIU is in second at .422) and assists per game at 18.7 -- the latter of which ranks eighth nationally. Even after losing Preseason All-MVC guard Kyndal Clark, Drake is managing just fine with sophomore Lizzy Wendell's MVC-leading 22.9 PPG (fifth nationally) and Caitlin Ingle's 7.1 assists per game (sixth nationally).
SIU AGAINST TOP BALL-SHARERS
Sunday against Drake won't be the first time this season the Salukis have faced some of the top assist leaders in the country. In fact, when SIU takes on Caitlin Ingle's 7.1 assists per game and the Drake Bulldogs on Sunday it will be the sixth time this season SIU has faced a top-50 national assist leader. Currently, SIU is 2-3 against Morehead State (Win, Almesha Jones, 7.8/game, third), Austin Peay (Win, Tiasha Gray, 6.2/game, 14th), Oregon State (Loss, Sydney Wiese, 5.6/game, 21st), Wright State (Loss, Tay'ler Mingo, 5.3/game, 35th) and Toledo (Loss, Inma Zanoguera, 5.1/game, T-42nd).
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
A significant facet of Southern's 8-5 start has been its 4-2 record on the road. SIU's 4-2 road start is the best for the Salukis since 1991-92 -- a season that saw a trip to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. SIU has not started 5-2 on the road since 1990-91.
SIU AGAINST THE MISSOURI VALLEY
Overall, SIU is 282-311 all-time versus the Missouri Valley Conference (formerly the Gateway Conference from 1983-92), which includes a 16-21 mark in the conference tournament. The Salukis are 266-290 all-time in regular season conference play dating back to its first season in the Gateway in 1983, and are 128-248 since the change to the MVC in 1992. The Valley has retained eight schools from the Gateway days (SIU, Bradley, Drake, Illinois State, Indiana State, Missouri State, Northern Iowa and Wichita State); Evansville joined the Valley in 1994, and Loyola most recently joined in 2013 to replace Creighton. Among active members of the Valley, SIU has an overall record of 273-310 and a conference mark of 238-267 dating back to 1983. In conference play (including the MVC Tournament), SIU has a winning record over three active teams: Bradley (42-24), Illinois State (35-34) and Wichita State (34-29); and a losing record with the remaining six schools: Drake (24-43), Evansville (19-24), Indiana State (31-33), Loyola (0-2), Missouri State (23-45) and Northern Iowa (30-33). Among the three inactive Gateway/MVC schools (Creighton, Eastern Illinois and Western Illinois), SIU was 46-36 -- which included a perfect 18-0 Gateway mark against WIU and a 15-4 Gateway record versus EIU.
UNI SLIPS PAST SIU, 79-70
Despite the best Saluki effort in Cedar Falls in years, Southern Illinois fell to a hot-shooting Northern Iowa team, 79-70, on Friday night at the McLeod Center.
It was a back-and-forth affair for much of the game between the Salukis (8-5, 1-1 MVC) and Panthers (7-7, 3-0 MVC). Southern out-shot UNI 48.3 percent to 47.4 and out-rebounded them 36-31 in a game that featured seven ties and seven lead changes. The difference in the game, though, came down to UNI's efficient percentages from the three-point line (8-of-19, 42.1 percent) and free throw line (17-of-20, 85 percent).
The Saluki offense had itself a day, though, with three impressive double-digit scoring efforts. Junior Dyana Pierre 24 points on 11-of-14 shooting and eight rebounds after being held without a single board in the first half. Redshirt sophomore Rishonda Napier posted her 13th straight game in as many this season in double-figures with 19 points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block (her first in more than a year). Junior Azia Washington recorded her fifth career double-double with 10 points and 10 boards. And redshirt junior Cartaesha Macklin also had nine points, five rebounds and two assists.
OH MY, SHE'S ON FIRE!
Redshirt sophomore Rishonda Napier missed most of the 2013-14 season, but it hasn't been noticeable through 13 games this season. Napier has led SIU in scoring in seven of its 13 games so far and has yet to score fewer than 11 points. Also to her credit are six 20-point performances in SIU's 13 games. At 17.9 points per game, she leads all Salukis and trails only Drake's Lizzy Wendell (22.9 PPG) in the Valley this season. She's also been invaluable in directing the offense. Her 3.1 assists rank third in the Valley behind Drake's Caitlin Ingle (7.1/game), and her assist/turnover ratio ranks second at 1.3
NAPIER SCORES 600TH POINT
Rishonda Napier became the 53rd Saluki in SIU history to pass the 500-point threshold against Murray State on Dec. 16, and she only needed five games to become just the 40th Saluki to ever pass 600. With 19 points at UNI on Jan. 9, Napier is now at 608 career points. Southern currently has three active student-athletes with at least 600 points on its roster (Cartaesha Macklin and Dyana Pierre), and Azia Washington is not far behind with 589 career points.
PIERRE CAREER MILESTONES
Junior center Dyana Pierre has passed several career milestones this season and has several more on the horizon. Pierre passed the 800 point threshold against Toledo, becoming just the 30th Saluki in history to break 800 in a career. At 850 points right now, Pierre needs only five points to pass Danette Jones for 28th all-time. She has also jumped into the top-10 in rebounding, where she currently sits at ninth all-time with 702 career boards. For eighth all-time, Pierre needs to surpass 717, held by Bridgett Bonds.
DOUBLE-DOUBLES FOR DYANA
Pierre recorded her 27th career double-double with a 16 point, 13 rebound performance at Morehead State,. At 27, Pierre is now only three shy of tying Wichita State's Antionette Wells for ninth all-time in MVC history. Pierre has had a double-double in six of SIU's 13 games (all wins) and currently averages a double-double on the season at 14.8 PPG (seventh in the MVC) and 10.6 rebounds per game (first in the Valley).
PIERRE WATCH
Junior center Dyana Pierre is having a career year for the Salukis and is already off to a staggering start through 13 games. Pierre has already jumped into the top-10 in rebounding (currently at 702) and the top-30 in scoring (currently at 850) in SIU history, and also ranks highly in several national categories. Pierre has the 31st-best field goal percentage in the nation at .543, which has been helped greatly by a 14-of-14 performance against Murray State -- only the seventh-such performance in the history of the NCAA. Pierre is also averaging a double-double at 14.8 PPG and 10.6 rebounds, the latter of which ranks 21st in the country.
THE SALUKI FIVE
Unlike previous seasons, the Salukis are coming into Missouri Valley play with a strong starting five. SIU's starting squad of redshirt sophomore Rishonda Napier (point guard), redshirt junior Cartaesha Macklin (guard), freshman Kylie Giebelhausen (guard), junior Azia Washington (forward) and junior Dyana Pierre (center) are 7-4 this season -- starting their first game together at home against Memphis and going on to win five of their next six games. Combined, the crew is averaging 55.4 points, 28.2 rebounds, 9.4 assists, 3.2 blocks and 3.9 steals in 27.7 minutes per game. Together, they are shooting 282-of-633 (.445) from the field and 61-of-167 (.365) from three for 82.3 percent of all SIU scoring.
WASHINGTON NEARS 600
Junior Azia Washington, SIU's third-leading scorer this season at 9.2 points per game, is 11 points away from becoming the 31st Saluki to ever pass 600 career points. At 589 points right now she could potentially be the second to pass the milestone in two straight games after Rishonda Napier did so at UNI on Jan. 9. Once Washington does, the Salukis will have four active players with at least 600 career points.
OPENING UP THE OFFENSE
The Saluki offense has really been clicking this year when Dyana Pierre is working down low. When Pierre has a double-double, SIU is 6-0 and the rest of the offense opens up as an after-effect. In four of those six games, Southern has had at least three scorers in double-digits. In all six games when Pierre has had a double-double, in addition to Pierre's 20.7 PPG SIU also has Rishonda Napier (17.2 PPG) and Cartaesha Macklin (10.2 PPG) averaging double-digits. In the same span the Salukis are shooting .471 from the field and .375 from three, and they are dishing out 17.0 assists per game opposed to 14.5 turnovers.
PROTECT THE ROCK
Thus far, the Salukis have taken good care of the ball. Even though SIU is averaging 15 turnovers per game, Southern has also showed massive improvement from previous years. SIU only turned the ball over eight times against Murray State, the first single-digit turnover game since SIU turned over nine at Marshall on Nov. 27, 2013. Eight turnovers is also the fewest turnover output since Feb. 19, 2009, when the Salukis only had seven at home against Illinois State. Against Murray State and last season's contest at Marshall are the only single-digit games since that seven-turnover day against Illinois State. The Salukis are 4-2 this season when they have 15 or fewer turnovers.
SHARING THE WEALTH
Sharing is caring when it comes to SIU's success so far this season. Southern is 7-2 when it has at least three scorers in double figures, with a season-high five double-digit scorers against UT Martin in the season opener. SIU's only losses with three double-digit scorers came against No. 14 Oregon State on Dec. 19 and at UNI on Jan. 9. Additionally, Southern's ball movement and offensive scheme have helped facilitate the wide range of scorers; SIU has had at least 17 assists in five of 13 games, yielding an average of 12.5 per game.
PERSEVERANCE
Southern has not been perfect this year, though, and two areas where that has been evident is in turnovers (15.0 per game) and free throw shooting (opponents have 40 more free throw attempts than SIU does). However, even though opponents are committing fewer turnovers and getting to the free throw line more than the Salukis, Southern is still finding ways to best those shortcomings and win. When committing more turnovers, SIU is 6-5; and when opponents get more attempts from the charity stripe Southern is 4-4.
OFFENSE EQUALS W'S
The adage is "defense wins championships," but through 13 games Southern showing up stronger on the offense end has meant a check-mark in the win column. The Salukis are 8-1 when scoring 60 or more points, but four of SIU's five losses have come with scoring outputs 55 or lower. Additionally, Southern is also 8-1 when out-shooting opponents from the field.
DYNAMIC DUO
Along with Rishonda Napier, the return of redshirt junior guard Cartaesha Macklin has worked wonders for the Salukis in the backcourt. Combined, Napier and Macklin are scoring 27.0 points, grabbing 7.8 rebounds, dishing out 5.8 assists and recording 2.8 steals per game. Where the duo have been most noticeable have been on the assist front, helping Southern to at least 17 assists in five of its 13 games. For reference, last season SIU only had two such games without Napier and Macklin.
NEW TERRITORY
Junior forward Azia Washington advanced her game beyond the three-point arc this season. Entering 2014-15, Washington only had two 3-point field goals in two seasons with the Salukis. In 12 games this year, though, Washington has gone 13-of-27 from beyond the arc, giving Southern yet another deep threat. Right now, Washington ranks first among Valley scorers in three-point field goal percentage (.481).
MACKLIN CLIMBING UP THE RANKS
Even after sitting out for most of last season, redshirt junior Cartaesha Macklin returns as SIU's highest active scorer with 1,149 points through 13 games this year. Macklin currently sits in 15th place all-time in school history, recently passing Theia Hudson for 16th and Angie Rougeau for 15th. Macklin needs 19 points to take 14th place from Kasia McClendon (1,167). Even taking her lowest season scoring total of 465, Macklin would be on pace to finish 2014-15 with 1,496 points -- which would place her fourth all-time with her senior season yet to come. Her career scoring average of 14.2 would finish ranked third all-time in Saluki history if she were to maintain that over the next two seasons. Using her pace this season, Macklin is slated to finish the year with 271 points, which would give her 1,302 points rank her in sixth place above Connie Price and Molly McDowell.
HISTORIC START
At 8-5, the Salukis are off to their best start since 1994-95. Here are another list of impressive firsts and milestones achieved through 13 games this season:
• First season-opening win since 2008.
• First season-opening victory on the road since 2000.
• SIU's 87 points against UT Martin was the most scored in any regulation game since Nov. 22, 2011 (at Tennessee State, 89).
• First home opener victory since 2008.
• First time SIU was 2-1 since 2008, 3-1 since 2005-06, 4-1 since 1991-92.
• First time SIU has won consecutive games since 2012-13.
• First time SIU has won consecutive games at home since 2008-09.
• SIU's 16-point victory over Southeast Missouri was the largest since Southern beat Evansville by 26 on Feb. 26, 2012 (72-46).
• First time SIU has won three-straight games since 2007-08.
• First time SIU has won three-straight home games since 2008-09.
• SIU's win over SEMO, combined with its 15-point win over Mercer, are the first consecutive 15-point victories since 2007-08.
• First time 5-2 since 1991-92.
• First time 2-1 on the road since 2002-03.
• First time 6-2 since 1991-92.
• Best home start (4-1) since 1996-97.
• Best start through 10 games since 1996-97 (6-4)
• Best start through 11 games since 1996-97 (7-4)
• First time SIU finished non-conference above .500 since 1994-95.
• Best start through 12 games since 1994-95 (8-4)
• Best road start since 1991-92 (4-1)
• First consecutive MVC opener victories since 2006-07/07-08
• Best start through 13 games since 1994-95(8-5)
• Best road start through six games since 1991-92 (4-2)
HISTORIC NON-CONFERENCE SEASON
After finishing 5-25 a year ago, the Salukis are off to a bewildering 8-4 start -- the best overall start since 1994-95 (8-5) -- and it is thanks to a superb non-conference season (7-4). It has been an extraordinary year of firsts for head coach Cindy Stein in her second year at the helm at SIU, which now includes the best road start since 1991-92 (4-2) and the first non-conference season above .500 since 1994-95.
SIU OVERCOMES ILLINOIS STATE, 65-56
Down 13 after losing an 11-point lead, the Salukis stormed back on a 14-0 run to regain the lead and rode that momentum to a 65-56 victory over Illinois State at Redbird Arena on Jan. 4 to open Missouri Valley Conference play.
Rishonda Napier ended up with a new career high with 26 points on 6-of-17 shooting and an 11-of-13 mark from the charity stripe -- 16 of those points coming in the second half. Mercedes Griffin scored all 10 of her points in the second half, as did Dyana Pierre (eight points, eight rebounds) and Cartaesha Macklin (seven points). Azia Washington, who scored eight in the first half, finished with 14 points and six rebounds on 2-of-3 three-point shooting.
GRIFFIN PROVIDES A SPARK
Senior Mercedes Griffin came off the bench against Illinois State on Jan. 4 and proved to be the shot in the arm the stagnant Saluki offense needed. After a scoring drought of 11:16 in the first half, Griffin sparked a 14-0 run in the second half that helped regain the lead from the Redbirds that the Salukis never lost again. After a Dyana Pierre layup at 11:03, Griffin hit a jumper and converted a steal into a fast break layup to give the Salukis some momentum and force an ISU timeout with 9:34 left in the game with the Redbirds leading 43-36. Cartaesha Macklin, Azia Washington and Rishonda Napier all joined in on the fun with field goals coming out of the timeout, and then Griffin capped off the 14-0 run to take a 44-43 lead with another steal and fast break layup. Griffin's run sparked a stellar second half where SIU shot a blistering 62.5 percent from the field contrasted to ISU's 32.3 clip. The Salukis forced nine Redbird turnovers (which turned into 14 Saluki points) and shot 16-of-22 from the free throw line -- opposed to 2-of-4 from the first half. Southern also held the Redbirds to a scoring drought of their own of 6:03.
BUCKING THE TREND
The win at Illinois State not only improved SIU to 8-4 for the first time since 1994-95 and 4-1 on the road since 1991-92, but it also snapped a couple of nasty streaks. First, the victory broke a 22-game MVC road losing streak dating back to Jan. 29, 2012 (at Evansville). It also broke a 13-game slide against Illinois State going back to March 6, 2008.
SIU HANGS WITH NO. 14 OREGON STATE
Despite Oregon State's size and athleticism, the Saluki women's basketball team found itself in the middle of a potential upset bid before the country's 14th-ranked Beavers pulled away for a 71-55 victory over SIU on Friday night at the Convocation Center.
The Salukis (6-3) were anything but evenly matched on paper with the perfect Beavers (9-0), but Southern proved it could hang with the big kids throughout much of the contest. Most of the game was a back-and-forth tug-of-war between SIU and OSU with 10 ties and eight lead changes. Southern eventually took a seven-point lead over the Beavers late in the first half during a bizarre flurry of technical fouls toward the Oregon State bench that resulted in the ejection of OSU head coach Scott Rueck. The second half started out looking like it was going to be a heavyweight fight down to the wire before a 13-0 run by the Beavers gave them the push they needed to victory.
BIZARRE TURN FOR CORRIGAN
Sophomore Carlie Corrigan came through for the Salukis against Oregon State in perhaps the strangest of ways. With OSU leading 23-22, a bizarre change of events nearly gave SIU a key momentum swing against the 14th-ranked Beavers. Cartaesha Macklin was originally called for an over-the-back foul on a rebound, but the call was reversed to that of Oregon State's Ali Gibson. OSU's Deven Hunter was then immediately assessed a technical for reasons unclear, and not long after OSU head coach Scott Rueck received a technical and seconds later received his second technical and an ejection. Once the dust settled, SIU chose Corrigan to go to the charity stripe for Southern's six free shots from the technicals -- where she sank each and every one to give SIU a 28-23 lead over the Beavers. Corrigan finished as one of four Salukis in double-figures with 11 points.
SALUKIS WIN FIVE OF SIX
Southern bounced back from a rough loss to Illinois on Dec. 6 (86-42) with a strong 75-65 win over Austin Peay on Dec. 13 and another decisive win over Murray State (78-63) on Dec. 16. After starting the year 1-1, the Salukis went on to win five of their next six, improving to 6-2 for the first time since the 1991-92 season. Southern is also 2-1 on the road for the first time since the 2002-03 season and have the best home start (4-1) since 1996-97. In their wins this season, the Salukis are scoring 77.8 points per game and only allowing 65.8; shooting .473 from the field and .367 from three; out-rebounding opponents 42.5 to 34.7; and, averaging 11.5 assists, 4.6 steals and 4.5 blocks per game.
SALUKIS OVERPOWER RACERS, 78-63
It was the Dyana Pierre show Dec. 16 at SIU Arena, where her school-record 14-of-14 performance from the field for 31 points helped push the Salukis to a 78-63 victory over Murray State. Pierre was the driving force for the Salukis (6-2) on both sides of the ball, chipping in 11 rebounds and three blocks for her 26th career double-double and helping Southern out-rebound a tall and physical Murray State (3-7) squad 43-35 in the winning effort. The Salukis are now 6-2 for the first time since the historic NCAA Tournament team of 1991-92, but are also now 4-1 at home -- the best home start since the Salukis went 5-0 to start the 1996-97 season.
PERFECT PIERRE
Preseason All-MVC center Dyana Pierre had herself a day against Murray State on Dec. 16, putting in a performance that will be remembered not only by SIU's record books but by the NCAA as well. Pierre went a perfect 14-of-14 from the field for 31 points, breaking Connie Price-Smith's 1982 single game school record of field goals without a miss -- which was 12-of-12. At the same time, her 14-of-14 performance made her just the seventh player in the history of the NCAA to be perfect on at least 14 attempts -- becoming the first to do so since 2002.
ATTENDANCE JUMPS UP
A factor in SIU's win over Murray State was the Field Trip Day crowd of 1,655. That crowd is the 12th-highest in the history of Saluki women's basketball at SIU Arena -- the second time this season that SIU has attracted more than 1,600 to the Arena. On Dec. 6, 1,975 came out to see the Salukis play the Illini.
SALUKIS WIN THREE STRAIGHT
In their first home games of the season, the Salukis took care of business with three-straight home wins over Thanksgiving break against Memphis (82-75), Southeast Missouri (78-62) and Mercer (67-52). Helping the Salukis to their first three-game streak in six seasons was a .467 clip from the field on 92-of-197 shooting -- including a 34 percent mark from three at 17-of-50. The Saluki defense was vital as well, holding opponents to .378 from the field and .188 from beyond the arc. The Salukis finished on the plus side of the assist/turnover ratio with 14.3 assists per game, as well as 7.7 blocks per game -- with 12 of SIU's 23 blocks coming solely from freshman Kylie Giebelhausen.
SIU RANKED NO. 32 IN FIRST RPI
In the initial official NCAA RPI rankings released on Dec. 2, Southern Illinois was ranked as the highest MVC school at No. 32 after its 4-1 start with significant wins over UT Martin, Memphis and Mercer. In total, three Valley schools were ranked in the top-55 in the initial poll, with Wichita State at No. 46 and Indiana State at No. 52.
SALUKIS STUN SKYHAWKS, 87-78
Coming off a 5-25 season that saw a rough 85-55 loss to UT Martin, the Salukis took vengeance on the 2014 NCAA Tournament Skyhawks with an 87-78 victory on Nov. 14 in Martin to kick off the 2014-15 season. Southern played exceptional basketball in just about every facet of the game. The Salukis shot an unreal 51.6 percent from the field on 17 assists -- more assists than in any regulation game last season. SIU dominated UTM on the glass, out-rebounding the Skyhawks 43-27 -- which included 12 offensive boards for the Salukis that led to 18 second-chance points. Southern didn't stop there, as they also displayed a tenacious defense in the second half to hold UTM to 18.2 percent from the beyond the arc after the Skyhawks sank two-thirds of their three-point attempts in the first half. Most importantly, SIU used a solid rotation of 11 student-athletes -- a stark contrast from only having eight scholarship athletes in 2013-14.
