Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
MacMurray (Exhibition)
Women's Basketball Hosts MacMurray In Final Exhibition Tune-Up
11/04/2016 | 10:56:00 | Women's Basketball
CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Saluki women's basketball team will close out its 2016-17 preseason on Friday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. as Division III member MacMurray College visits the SIU Arena for the final exhibition contest of the season.
For Starters
The Salukis return eight letterwinners from a season ago, including leading scorer and preseason All-MVC selection Rishonda Napier. SIU finished the 2015-16 campaign with a 20-13 record and a 12-6 mark in Valley play as Southern posted a 20-win season for the first time in nine years and made its first postseason appearance since 2007.
The Opponent
A member of the Saint Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, the Highlanders were picked to finish eighth in the SLIAC Preseason Coaches Poll.
MacMurray returns four players from a team that went 4-21 a year ago, including their top 3-point shooter, Kayla Horlacher. The sophomore guard finished last season with the third-most three-pointers in school history. Also returning for the Highlanders is Elizabeth Kruemmelbein, Andie Marvel and Ashley Huels. MacMurray and head coach Derek James also welcome seven newcomers to the mix, including six-foot forward Faythe Newberry.
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.
Stein in Exhibitions
• The Salukis have won four-straight exhibition contests under head coach Cindy Stein.
• In SIU's exhibition opening win over Kentucky Wesleyan on Oct. 27, 11 of 12 Salukis scored at least two points in the win, with all five freshmen playing at least 10 minutes. Lauren Hartman finished tied for the team lead in rebounds with seven, while Kristen Nelson and Caitlyn Claussen each had nine points.
Preseason Accolades
• Rishonda Napier- 2016 Preseason All-MVC selection.
Record Watch in 2016-17
• Rishonda Napier is 457 points shy of passing Cartaesha Macklin to become SIU's all-time leading scorer.
• Napier is 30 3-pointers shy of becoming SIU's all-time leader in triples made.
• Kylie Giebelhausen needs just three made 3-pointers to pass Jordyn Courier for sixth on SIU's all-time 3-pointers made list, and 47 to crack the top-five.
• Giebelhausen needs just three blocks to move into seventh place on SIU's all-time blocks list, and is five blocks shy from cracking the top-five all-time.
Captains
Rishonda Napier, Kylie Giebelhausen and Carlie Corrigan will serve as captains for the 2016-17 Salukis.
Non-Conference Slate
The 2016-17 Southern Illinois women's basketball team will have plenty of chances early on to build its postseason 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, beginning at Oklahoma on Nov. 13.
Ticket Packages
Season tickets, mini plans and single-game tickets for the 2016-17 season are available now at the SIU ticket office by calling at 1-877-SALUKIS and online by clicking here.
Follow Us
The official Twitter of Saluki women's basketball is @SIU_WBasketball. Fans are encouraged to follow for in-game updates as well as team news. For coverage of all 18 SIU teams, follow @SIUSalukis.
