Southern Illinois University
UAB
Women's Basketball hosts UAB to open three-game homestand
12/02/2016 | 10:57:00 | Women's Basketball
Saturday's matchup marks the second-ever meeting between the two programs.
| SIU Salukis (3-3) vs. UAB Blazers (3-2) | |
| Date | Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016 |
| Time | 1 p.m. CT |
| Location | Carbondale, Ill. / SIU Arena |
| Game Notes | Southern Illinois |
| Game Notes | Alabama-Birmingham |
| Video | ESPN3 with Danny Valle and Kelly Burke |
| Radio | Saluki All-Access |
| Live Stats | Sidearm Stats |
| Tickets | Buy Tickets |
| Media Guide | SIU Media Guide |
| Social Media | @SIU_WBasketball |
The Southern Illinois women's basketball team opens a three-game homestand on Saturday, Dec. 3, when it hosts the University of Alabama-Birmingham Blazers. Tipoff for the non-conference showdown is set for 1 p.m. inside the SIU Arena.
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Series History
This marks just the second time that the Salukis and the Blazers have met on the hardwood, with the last meeting coming at the Long Island Classic in Brooklyn, N.Y. during the 2003-04 season. Alabama-Birmingham won the only previous meeting, an 85-72 win.
Last Time
SIU 72, UAB 85
The Salukis trailed by ten at the half, 43-33 and couldn't overcome 26 turnovers in an 85-72 loss to the Blazers. Southern had three score in double-figures, led by 16 points from Tiffany Crutcher.Â
Scouting the Blazers
The Blazers (3-2)Â come into Saturday's matchup having won two in a row, tallying wins over High Point and Mississippi Valley State. Freshman Miyah Barnes has already collected a pair of Conference USA Freshman of the Week honors, as she has the highest scoring average (12.0) amongst Conference USA freshmen. Sophomore guard Deanna Kuzmanic returns following a freshman campaign in which she earned a spot on the All-C-USA Freshman team after sinking 74 three-pointers last season, the sixth-most in a single season in UAB history. UAB head coach Randy Norton is no stranger to the SIU Arena, as he spent seven seasons as an assistant coach at Illinois State. UAB was picked to finish ninth out of 14 in the 2016 Conference USA Preseason Poll.
SIU versus Conference USA
SIU plays its first Conference USA opponent of the season in UAB. The Salukis are 8-19 all-time against Conference USA foes, including a 66-53 loss to Louisiana Tech in the Sweet 16 of the 1987 NCAA Tournament. Southern holds a 3-5 record at home against current C-USA members. The Salukis last win over a Conference USA member came at the SIU Arena on Dec. 15, 1996, a 91-72 win over Middle Tennessee State.
Preseason Poll
SIU was picked to finish fourth in the MVC, marking 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.
Something Has To Give
The Blazers come into Saturday's contest seventh in the nation in three-point field goal percentage, currently shooting at a 42.2% clip from beyond the arc. The Salukis, on the other hand, are ranked fourth in the nation in opponent's three-point field goal percentage, holding opponents to just 19.6% from three.Â
Speaking of Defending the Perimeter
The Salukis are currently ranked 1st in the conference, and 4th in the nation, in opponent's three-point field goal percentage. SIU, which held Brescia University to just 2-of-21 shooting from beyond the arc on Nov. 26, is holding opponents to just 19.6% (12-of-78) shooting from beyond the arc.
Slight of Hand
SIU's 13 steals in the win over Brescia on Nov. 26 marks the first time Southern has cracked double-digits in steals since March 7, 2015 against Illinois State. The 13 steals were the most in a game during the Cindy Stein era, and the most since Southern nabbed 13 steals in a 52-41 loss to Evansville on Feb. 9, 2013.
Dishing Out Helpers
The Salukis dished out 29 assists on 37 field goals in the win over Brescia, tied for the second-most assists in a single game in program history. Eight different Salukis recorded an assist in the win, and Southern turned the ball over just six times. SIU ranks second in the conference, and 26th in the nation, in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.31). SIU's 102 total assists this season are the most in the Valley.
Back-to-Back 20+ Assist games
Southern recorded 20+ assists in back-to-back contests this year, finishing with 20 in the loss to SIUE and coming back with 29 in the win over Brescia on Nov. 26. You have to go all the way back to the 2000-01 season to find the last time that SIU recorded 20+ assists in multiple games during the same season, and all the way back to the 1998-99 season when current Director of Basketball Operations Julie Beck was Southern's head coach to find the last time SIU accomplished the feat in back-to-back games. SIU recorded 21 assists vs. Murray State on Nov. 20, 1998, and followed with 20 assists at Memphis on Nov. 23, 1998.
Dropping Dimes Part Two
Of the 53 times in which the Salukis have tallied 20 or more assists in a single game since 1989, this marks just the eighth time that Southern has dished out 20-plus assists in back-to-back games. Southern's longest streak of 20-plus assist games is three-straight, which it has done twice, last doing so during the 1993-94 season.
Finding the Opener Shooter
Of the eight occurrences in which SIU has tallied 20 or more assists in back-to-back games, the 49 combined assists against SIUE and Brescia are the second-most. The 1990 squad recorded 58 assists in back-to-back contests, as Southern handed out a school record 30 assists against Western Illinois on Jan. 8, 1990 and followed with 28 against Northern Iowa on Jan. 11, 1990.
Most Threes through 6 games in school history
The Salukis have made 45 three-pointers thus far this season- the most through six games in program history. Southern's previous best of 37 was set during the 2011-12 season.
Finding the Open Looks
SIU is averaging 7.5 three-pointers per game in the early goings of the 2016-17 season, well above the school record of 6.667 threes per game set a year ago. SIU's attempts per game are also up, with Southern shooting 23.5 three-pointers per contest through six games, or two three-point attempts more per game than the 2011-12 season, when the Salukis averaged a school record 21.5 three-point attempts per game.
Power 5 Conference win
The Salukis picked up a 64-61 win at Purdue, a win that snapped several long streaks. The win at Purdue marked SIU's first win in West Lafayette, Ind. since 1980, and the Salukis first win over a Big Ten school since 1993. 1993 also marked the last time SIU beat a school from a Power 5 conference, as Southern defeated Arizona State, 73-57 on Dec. 20, 1993.
Napier making the freebies
Rishonda Napier is a perfect 14-for-14 from the charity stripe this season, and is one of seven players in NCAA DI who have yet to miss a free throw. However, Napier doesn't yet qualify in the national rankings for free-throw percentage, as her 2.3 free throws per game average is slightly below the 2.5 free throws per game average needed for inclusion.
Giebelhausen leads MVC from three
Kylie Giebelhausen currently leads the Missouri Valley Conference in a plethora of three-point statistics. She's first in three-pointers made (18), three-pointers made per game (3.0) and fourth in three-point field goal percentage (41.9%), with her 3.0 threes per game the 38th best average in the nation.
Shooting for a high percentage
One of the big storylines in the early going of the 2016-17 season has been the emergence of Kim Nebo, who has scored in double figures in four of Southern's six games this season. She's currently leading the Valley in field goal percentage, shooting at a 59.6% (34-of-57) clip. It also marks the 30th-best field goal percentage in NCAA DI.Â
Corrigan Making Early Impact
Carlie Corrigan has started all six games for the Salukis this season, and has as many starts in 2016-17 as she did during the entire 2015-16 campaign. She set a new career-high by playing 38 minutes in the loss at UT Martin, and for the second time this season, tied her career-best by making four three-pointers.
Giebelhausen joins exclusive group
Kylie Giebelhausen is just five points away from 600 for her career, and when she scores those five points, will become the 42nd Saluki with at least 600 career points. The East Peoria, Ill. native will also become just the third Saluki to tally at least 600 points/250 rebounds/100 assists/80 blocks/50 steals in a career.
Logging Big Minutes
Giebelhausen also eclipsed the 2,000-minute mark for her career earlier this season, becoming the 38th Saluki to do so.
Second Career Start
Tiajaney Hawkins made her second-straight start in place of freshman Lauren Hartman, and scored six points, dished out three assists and grabbed four offensive rebounds in 19 minutes against UT Martin on Nov. 29.
First Collegiate Swat
Olivia Bowling recorded the first block of her collegiate career against the UT Martin Skyhawks, doing so in 20 minutes of play off the bench. She was one minute off of tying her career-best of 21 set in the 102-69 win over Morehead State on Dec. 12, 2015.
Next One is 300
Rishonda Napier's next rebound will be the 300th of her career. She will become just the fifth Saluki with over 1,000 career points/300 rebounds/300 assists, joining former teammate Cartaesha Macklin as well as former Saluki standouts Angie Rougeau (1989-93), Kasia McClendon (1993-97), and Molly McDowell (1999-03).
3 points to pass Plab
Napier also needs three points to surpass D.D. Plab (1980-84) for seventh on SIU's all-time scoring list. The preseason All-MVC selection has scored 1,378 points in 101 games during her Saluki career.Â
In Good Hands with Corrigan
Carlie Corrigan dished out a career-high five assists in the win over Brescia on Nov. 26, upping her assists-to-turnover ratio to 3.75. Not only does that lead the Valley, but it is also the 14th-best ratio in the nation.
Block Party
Kylie Giebelhausen recorded the 85th block of her career in the win over Brescia- moving her past Mary Berghuis for 4th on SIU's all-time blocks list.
Career 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 is in eighth on SIU's career scoring list, needing 402 points in her final season wearing the maroon and white to pass her former teammate for tops on the all-time list.
