Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Salukis to open 2015 Preseason WNIT at DePaul on Friday
11/11/2015 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
| Southern Illinois (0-0) at DePaul (0-0) | |
| Date | Friday, Nov. 13, 2015 |
| Time | 7 p.m. CST |
| Location | Chicago, Ill. -- McGrath-Phillips Arena |
| Video | DePaulBlueDemons.com |
| Radio | Saluki Sports Network | 97.7 FM (Carbondale) |
| Notes | Southern Illinois | DePaul | WNIT |
| 2014-15 Season Stats | Southern Illinois | DePaul | |
| Live Stats | Gametracker | Valley Scoreboard |
| Social Media | @SIU_WBasketball | @DePaulWBBHoops |
By: Will Becque
SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. --The Southern Illinois University women's basketball team opens the 2015-16 campaign against no. 22 DePaul in the first round of the Preseason WNIT on Saturday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m. inside the McGrath-Phillips Arena.
A free audio stream of the contest is available on SIUSalukis.com, with fourth-year broadcaster Bryce Williams on the call.
The Salukis, who open their 57th season on Saturday, are coming off a 17-13 overall record in 2014-15. Southern Illinois went 10-8 in MVC action, the most conference wins in a single-season since the 2006-07 season.
Coming into this season, the Salukis are predicted to finish fourth in the MVC as voted by the league's coaches, sports information directors and media.
At MVC Media Day, senior forward Dyana Pierre was one of five tabbed to the Preseason All-MVC team after averaging a double-double, boasting 14.6 points and 11.8 rebounds per contest last season. SIU returns eight other letterwinners including point guard Rishonda Napier, guard Cartaesha Macklin, guard Kylie Giebelhausen and forward Azia Washington.
There are three newcomers that will see action this season: guard Olivia Bowling, forward/guard Tiajaney Hawkins and forward/center Ashley Hummel.
SIU won both of its exhibition contests, defeating Maryville, 66-60 in the opener before disposing of Kentucky Wesleyan, 96-64 in the exhibition finale.
The DePaul Blue Demons posted a 27-8 record in 2014-15, winning their second-straight Big East championship with a 78-68 win over Seton Hall. In doing so, the Blue Demons earned a trip to their 13th consecutive NCAA Championship, where they advanced to the second round. DePaul is projected to repeat as Big East champions by the league's coaches. In preseason action, the Blue Demons went 2-0, thumping Saint Xavier, 135-64 and followed with an 87-67 win over Lewis University.
"I am excited for the opportunity to play in the WNIT and face an outstanding DePaul team," said head coach Cindy Stein said. "I have the utmost respect for Doug Bruno and his program. He is one of the best coaches in the country."
Preseason All-BIG EAST selections Megan Podkowa and Chanise Jenkins return, along with junior Jessica January.
QUICK NOTES
VS. DEPAUL
The Saluki women's basketball team is set to open the 2015-16 regular season on the road against DePaul on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. Southern won both of its exhibition contests, defeating Maryville, 66-60 before disposing of Kentucky Wesleyan, 96-64. DePaul also won both of its exhibition contests, defeating St. Xavier, 135-64 followed by a 87-67 win over Lewis on Nov. 7.
SERIES HISTORY
The Blue Demons hold a 9-3 edge over the Salukis in 12 meetings between the two schools dating back to 1979. DePaul is riding a six-game winning streak over SIU, with the Salukis last victory in the series a 88-53 win on January 18, 1983. All three of SIU's victories over DePaul have come in Carbondale, with the Blue Demons owning a perfect 6-0 record on their home floor. DePaul has won all three match-ups between the two sides since the McGrath-Phillips Arena opened in the Spring of 2000, most recently with a 93-67 victory over the Salukis on Dec. 22, 2011.
LAST TIME DePaul 83, SIU 67
The nationally-ranked Blue Demons jumped out to a commanding 30-5 advantage in the opening 10 minutes, coasting to an 83-67 win on Dec. 22, 2011. Southern managed more turnovers in the first half (21) than points (18), and the hosts took advantage. The Blue Demons scored 29 of their 51 first-half points off Saluki turnovers. SIU's eight blocks were tied for the most by an opponent at McGrath-Phillips Arena since its opening in 2000. Then freshman guard Cartaesha Macklin, the only active member of either team on the roster the last time these two teams met, went scoreless in the first half, but exploded for 18 points and six assists in the second half.
SCOUTING THE BLUE DEMONS
DePaul is coming off a 27-8 season and a trip to the NCAA tournament. The ninth-seeded Blue Demons defeated the eigth-seeded University of Minnesota Gophers, 79-72, before falling to the one-seeded Notre Dame Fighting Irish, 79-67 in the round of 32. The Blue Demons won the Big East tournament as the two-seed, toppling Seton Hall, 78-68 to repeat as Big East Champions. The most outstanding player of last year's Big East tournament, Megan Podkowa, is back for her senior season as is second-team All-Big East selection Chanise Jenkins. The Blue Demons will, however, be without their leading scorer from a year ago, Brittany Hrynko, who averaged 19.1 points as a senior and was drafted by the Connecticut Sun with the 19th pick in the 2015 WNBA Draft.
SIU IN SEASON OPENERS
The Salukis own a 22-32 all-time record in season openers dating back to the 1961-62 season, having won their opener last season for the first time since 2008-09. SIU last one back-to-back season openers from 1990-92, when the Cindy Scott led Salukis defeated San Francisco, 71-46 to open the 1990-91 season, and the following year, opened with a 73-48 throttling of the University of Illinois.
SIU 66, MARYVILLE 60
Three Salukis scored in double figures, led by sophomore guard Kylie Giebelhausen, who finished with 16 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and blocked four shots. Redshirt senior Cartaesha Macklin added 15 points and 10 rebounds, while redshirt junior Rishonda Napier tallied 10 points and eight assists for SIU, who never trailed in the game. The Salukis forced 14 turnovers and outrebounded Maryville, 55-41.
SIU 96, KENTUCKY WESLEYAN 64
The Southern Illinois University women's basketball team had four players score in double figures as the Salukis pulled away from the Kentucky Wesleyan University Panthers in the second half, winning 96-64. Junior forward Carlie Corrigan and sophomore forward Celina VanHyfte led the way with 19 points each, while junior forward Kim Nebo and redshirt senior guard Cartaesha Macklin added 16 points apiece.
PRESEASON WNIT UNKIND TO THE VALLEY
In 33 appearances by MVC schools since the first Preseason WNIT in 1994, The Valley boasts a record of 11-22. No MVC team has ever advanced to the semifinal round, while only advancing out of the first round five times in the Conference's 17 collective tries. Wichita State was the most recent Valley school to advance to the second round, doing so with a 69-46 win over IPFW on Nov. 8, 2013.
PAST PRESEASON WNIT RESULTS
SIU is making its second appearance in the Preseason WNIT- the Salukis last participated in the tip-off tournament on Nov. 14, 1997, a 83-69 opening round loss to Northwestern University. DePaul last appeared in the Preseason WNIT in 2010, advancing all the way to the championship game where they eventually fell to the Purdue Boilermakers, 67-58. During their run to the title game in 2010, the Blue Demons disposed of Valparaiso, 84-53 in the opening round, before taking care of MVC foe Missouri State, 82-66 in the second round. DePaul met the Florida Gators in the semifinals, and advanced to the finals after Florida's Kayla Lewis caught the inbounds pass and appeared to score on a layup at the buzzer but the refs huddled and waved off the basket, giving the Blue Demons the victory.
