Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
Oklahoma
Salukis begin 2016-17 campaign at No. 16 Oklahoma
11/12/2016 | 1:28:00 | Women's Basketball
The Salukis will open the 2016-17 campaign at No. 16 Oklahoma on Sunday, Nov. 13. Tip-off is set for 12:30 p.m.Â
The Opponent
The Salukis and the Sooners meet for the 3rd time in a series that dates back to the 1979-80 season. The two sides have split their previous two meetings, with SIU's last win coming the last time the two teams met. During the 1983-84 season, the Salukis defeated the Sooners, 82-62 at the Dial Classic in Pullman, Wash. The 2016-17 Sooners are coming off a season in which they won 22 games and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament under head coach Sherri Coale.
SIU's record all-time vs. Big 12
SIU is 1-4 all-time against Big 12 opponents, with Sunday's matchup marking the first time since 2007 that the Salukis have taken on an opponent from the Power 5 conference. That year, the Salukis traveled to Kansas State to take on the Wildcats in the second round of the Women's NIT, where they eventually fell, 72-46. SIU's last win against a Big-12 opponent came during the 1983-84 season, when the Salukis defeated Oklahoma, 82-62 on Dec. 2, 1983.Â
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First trip to the Sooner State
This will mark the first ever trip to Oklahoma for the Salukis, who've played four games against schools from Oklahoma but have never made the trip to the Sooner State. It'll be the first game for the Salukis against an opponent from Oklahoma since 1984, when they defeated Oklahoma City in the Dial Classic on Dec. 14, 1984 in San Diego, Calif., going on to win the entire tournament the following day with a win over San Diego State under legendary Saluki head coach Cindy Scott.
SIU in Season Openers
The Salukis own a 22-33 all-time record in season openers dating back to the 1961-62 season, having last won their opener in 2014-15, which marked the first time they had done so since 2008-09.
SIU record against Power 5 Conference opponents
It will mark the 148th meeting between the Salukis and a Power 5 conference opponent, with SIU holding a 52-95 (.353) all-time record against Power 5 opponents. Southern's last win against a Power 5 opponent came during its remarkable 1991-92 season, when the Salukis earned the 10th seed in the NCAA Tournament and defeated Colorado from the PAC-12 in overtime, 84-80, to advance to the second round of the tournament.
2016-17 Salukis
The Salukis will return three starters to the court this season, including All-MVC first-team standout Rishonda Napier. Kylie Giebelhausen, who has started 60 straight-games going back to her freshman season, is also back, as is SIU's second-leading rebounder from a year ago, Kim Nebo. SIU also added five newcomers to the team this year, three of which are six-foot or taller, making it one of the tallest classes in program history.Â
2015-16 In Review
Last season, SIU posted a 20-win season for the first time in nine years, and made its first postseason appearance since 2007. In addition, the team won a combined 37 games over the past two seasons, the most in a two-year stretch in 20 years.
Napier closing in on all-time scoring record
SIU's career scoring record may once again be in jeopardy. Cartaesha Macklin broke the school record last season, and Rishonda Napier may pass her during the 2016-17 season. Napier will begin the season in eighth on SIU's career scoring list, needing 457 points in her final season wearing the maroon and white to pass her former teammate for tops on the all-time list.
Non-Conference Schedule
A year after playing postseason basketball for the first time since 2007, the 2016-17 Southern Illinois women's basketball team will have plenty of chances early on to build its resume against top competition. The Salukis will play an 11-game non-conference schedule that features five teams that made the postseason a year ago.
SIU Picked 4th in MVC Preseason Poll
SIU was one of four teams to earn 300-plus points in the poll, with the Drake Bulldogs and Preseason Player of the Year guard Lizzy Wendell earning top billing. The Bulldogs received 34 out of 38 first-place votes and 392 total points in the annual survey of the league's coaches, sports information directors and media members. Northern Iowa garnered four first place votes and 317 points, while Missouri State was right behind the Panthers with a pair of first place votes and 313 points. The Salukis tallied 306 points, and it marks the first time in 18 years (1996-97, 1997-98) that SIU has been picked in the top-half of the annual poll in back-to-back seasons.
Giebelhausen on the block
Kylie Giebelhausen comes in with 77 career blocks, the ninth-most in school history. Giebelhausen needs just three blocks to pass two former Saluki standouts in Amy Rakers (1987-91) and Char Warring (1980-84) for the seventh-most in program history, and needs five blocks to crack the top-5.Â
Napier for three
Rishonda Napier needs to make just 30 three-pointers during the 2016-17 season to pass Teri Oliver (2009-12) for most in program history. Napier has made 206 three-pointers in her three seasons.
