Southern Illinois University
University at Albany
Women's Basketball tips off in Puerto Rico on Tuesday
12/17/2017 | 2:00:00 | Women's Basketball
The Southern Illinois women's basketball team will embark on a five-day excursion to San Juan, Puerto Rico to take on Albany (7-2) on Tuesday, Dec. 19 and Kennesaw State (4-7) on Wednesday, Dec. 20. It's the first time in program history that the Salukis have taken on either opponent.
Return to San Juan
The Salukis are making their third appearance in San Juan, and first since 1997. In 1997, they lost to Detroit-Mercy, 73-62, before falling to Duke, 76-54. SIU rebounded with a 77-40 win over the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez on Nov. 30, 1997 behind 19 points from Theia Hudson. SIU has played in three other international events over the years, dating back to 1994, with it's most recent trip to the Grand Bahama Island in the Bahamas during the 2008-09 season. Saluki teams are 3-3 all-time in Puerto Rico and are 3-5 all-time during foreign trips with their last win coming against the University of Puerto Rico on 11/30/97.
Regular Season Tourneys
The Salukis are 3-4 under head coach Cindy Stein at regular season tournaments, including a 2-1 record during the 2015 Preseason WNIT. SIU went 1-1 at last season's Roo Holiday Classic, hosted by UMKC. Southern erased a 16-point halftime deficit to stun the hosts from UMKC in the opening game of the Roo Holiday Classic, but fell to South Dakota 68-57 to close out play in Kansas City. Kim Nebo and Rishonda Napier were named to the All-Tournament Team.
Last Regular Season Tourney Win
SIU's last regular season tournament title came at the Dial Classic during the 1986-87 season. The Salukis finished that season ranked No. 16 in the AP Rankings after winning the Gateway Conference with a 28-3 overall record and a perfect 18-0 record in conference play. SIU lost two of its top scorers in Ann Kattreh and Bridgett Bonds before the Gateway Conference Tournament and Colette Wallace came off the bench to save the day. Wallace recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds in SIU's 63-56 semifinal win over Bradley, and scored a career-best 20 points in SIU's 53-51 championship win over Eastern Illinois. SIU advanced to the NCAA Tournament where it defeated No. 14 LSU, 70-56, before falling to No. 3 Louisiana Tech, 66-53.
SIU vs. the field
SIU will take on the Albany Great Danes on Dec. 19 before tangling with the Kennesaw State Owls on Dec. 20. The Salukis have never faced either the Great Danes or the Owls prior to this season.
SIU vs. the Atlantic Sun
The Kennesaw State Owls are in the eight-team Atlantic Sun Conference. The Salukis are 0-1 all-time against current A-SUN members, with their only previous matchup against an A-SUN opponent coming on Dec. 21, 2004- a 63-55 Stetson win.
SIU vs. the American East Conference
SIU's matchup with Albany will not only mark the first-ever meeting between the two programs, but will also be the first time that the Salukis have taken on an opponent from the American East Conference.
Scouting the Great Danes
Albany won 12 of its last 13, including a 7-1 record in the month of February to secure the program's sixth-straight American East Conference title. The Great Danes garnered a No. 16 seed and drew UConn, who disposed of Albany, 116-55. A year prior, the Great Dane upset Florida in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to earn the program's first-ever tournament victory. Joanna Bernabei-McNamee enters her second season as head coach of the Great Danes after she became the first coach in American East history to guide a team to the title in their first year. All-AEC Second Team Jessica Féquière returns. Féquière led Albany in rebounding with 7.2 rebounds per game a year ago and ranked second on the team in scoring with 12.7 points per game. Féquière was the only player on the roster to start all 29 games for the Great Danes during the regular season, and she is averaging 19.0 points per game through nine games this season.
Scouting the Owls
The Owls went 10-20 in the Atlantic Sun Conference a year ago and are 4-7 this season. Kennesaw State has won three of its last four coming into the Puerto Rico Clasico. The Owls return Carlotta Granola, who represented Team Italy at the U-20 Euro Championships and earned ASUN Freshman of the Year honors after averaging 11.7 points and a team-leading 6.3 rebounds per game a year ago. She is averaging 9.3 points and 4.2 rebounds per game this season while the Owls are led by Kamiyah Street, who is averaging 15.6 points per contest.
Ranked Nationally Amongst Freshmen
Abby Brockmeyer is averaging 1.22 blocks per game, which is second to Kaylan Hoffman of Evansville for the most by a freshmen in the MVC. Not only does she rank second in the league for freshmen in blocked shots, but she ranks 27th nationally among freshmen in the category.
RPI Ranking
SIU's RPI ranking is currently 202, which is the fourth-best in the Valley this season. Only Bradley (155), UNI (172) and Drake (178) rank higher. Albany's RPI rank is 89, while Kennesaw State's is at No. 196.
Drawing Contact
Nicole Martin currently leads the Missouri Valley Conference in free throw attempts with 50. Her 50 free throw attempts are tied for the 12th-most nationally among sophomores.
Climbing the Charts
• Kylie Giebelhausen ranks 23rd amongst DI players with 211 career three-pointers. It's the most of any active player in the Missouri Valley Conference.
• Her 1,059 career points are ranked No. 139 in the NCAA DI. Valparaiso's Dani Franklin (1,364 pts) and Missouri State's Liza Fruendt (1,321 pts) are the only players with more career points in the Valley.
• Giebelhausen cracked the top-25 all-time in Valley history for career three-pointers with her two against Western Kentucky. She now ranks 25th all-time, and needs four three-pointers to pass Indiana State's Lisa Verhoff (2002-06) for 24th all-time. The East Peoria, Ill. native is 11 three-pointers shy of passing the great Jackie Stiles (1998-01) for 21st in Valley history.
• The 2017 All-MVC First Team selection has played 3,330 career minutes- the fifth-most in program history. She is 121 minutes shy of passing Dyana Pierre for fourth all-time.
Scored in Double Figures
Kylie Giebelhausen scored in double figures for the sixth time in nine games this season with her 10 points against Western Kentucky. It marked the 57th time in 103 career games that she has reached double figures in her career.
Career-Best
Brittany Patrick snagged a career-best four steals against Western Kentucky on Dec. 10. She also dished out four assists against the Lady Toppers, which marked the fifth time this season she has finished with four or more assists.
Good Minutes off the bench
Ashley Hummel has been one of SIU's most consistent players off the bench this season. Against Western Kentucky, Hummel tied a career-high by playing 13 minutes and she responded with six points on 3-of-4 shooting.
