Southern Illinois University
University of Evansville
Salukis host Purple Aces to open conference play
12/30/2020 | 4:58:00 | Women's Basketball
CARBONDALE, Ill. — The Southern Illinois University women's basketball team opens Missouri Valley Conference play this weekend with back-to-back games against the University of Evansville Purple Aces beginning on Friday, Jan. 1 at 3 p.m. The two sides will play again on Saturday, Jan. 2 at the same time. Southern last played nearly two weeks ago at Missouri but have won three of its last four games, while the Aces are riding a four-game winning streak. Both games can be heard locally on Magic 95.1 FM and can be streamed on the ESPN+ or ESPN3.
All-time vs. the Aces
- The Salukis and the Aces meet for the 63rd time Friday in a series that dates back to 1984.
- Southern leads the all-time series, 34-28.
- The Salukis have won six-straight, and nine of their last 11, against Evansville.
- Evansville's last win in the series was on Feb. 17, 2017- a 74-61 win inside SIU Arena.
Last meeting between the two:
- Southern ran away with a 99-60 win over the Aces on Feb. 23, 2020.
- SIU scored an impressive 60 points on 65.7% (23-of-35) in the first half of its win over Evansville on Feb. 23, which was the most points scored in a half since 1981 and ranks as the second-most points scored in a half in program history.
- The Salukis shot a season-high 58.7% from the field in its win vs. Evansville on Feb. 23- its best since shooing 60% from the floor in a win over the Aces on Jan. 2, 2009.
- Southern's +39 point margin of victory was its largest against a conference foe since 1991 while it's 99 total points in the win were the seventh-most points in a game in program history. Five of the top-seven single-game scoring marks in school history have come under eighth-year head coach Cindy Stein.
Current Salukis vs. the Purple Aces
• Abby Brockmeyer is averaging 13.0 points to go along with 8.3 rebounds and 2.2 blocks in six meetings against the Purple Aces. Brockmeyer tied the Saluki freshman single-game scoring record at Evansville two years ago, as she finished with a career-high 27 points to tie Cartaesha Macklin's 2011 school record.
• Makenzie Silvey comes into Friday's matchup averaging 9.3 points and 4.0 rebounds in six career games against the Aces. Silvey has reached double figures in three of her six career games against UE.
• Payton McCallister scored 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting from three in SIU's 99-60 win over Evansville on Feb. 23. McCallister tied her career-best this season with 15 points in Southern's win over SEMO.
7-0 in Conference Home Openers under Stein
• The Salukis improved to 7-0 in conference openers under head coach Cindy Stein.
• SIU had lost three-straight conference openers prior to Stein's arrival in 2013.
• Overall, the Salukis hold a .589% winning percentage (23-16) in conference openers since 1981-82.
Winning Record in non-conference play
• SIU enters conference play with a winning record for the third-straight season, and for the sixth time during head coach Cindy Stein's eight-year tenure.
Guarding the Rock
• The Salukis turned the ball over a season-low six times in the win over Kansas City on Dec. 17. It was the fewest turnovers for Southern since its 66-41 win over Evansville on March 3, 2018 in which SIU turned the ball over just four times.
• Southern ranks second in the Valley in fewest turnovers per game (13.6) and fewest total turnovers (68).
• The Salukis are third in the MVC in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.13) while Payton McCallister (3rd; 2.57) and Makenzie Silvey (9th; 1.70) both rank top-10 in the conference in the category.
Hard to take off the floor
• Payton McCallister has started three of SIU's five games this season and has more than doubled her previous minutes per game average. The junior from Columbia, Mo. came into the season averaging 13.2 minutes per game and currently ranks third on the team and 20th in the Valley at 28.2 minutes per game.
• In addition to ranking third in the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio, McCallister is also currently ninth in assists per game (3.6) and 13th in three-pointers made per game (1.6).
• Payton McCallister made her 10th career start against Kansas City and recorded career-bests in assists (7), steals (6) and minutes played (38).
• McCallister's seven assists - six steals is the first such stat line by a Saluki since Rishonda Napier recorded eight assists and six steals against Indiana State on Feb. 15, 2015.
Double-Doubles
• Abby Brockmeyer notched her 20th career double-double in SIU's win over SEMO- she finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
• Brockmeyer's 20 career double-doubles are the most among active players in the Missouri Valley Conference and are the 27th-most among active DI players nationally.
• The Salukis are 13-7 all-time when Brockmeyer records a double-double.
Cleaning the Glass
• Adrianna Katcher has grabbed at least five boards in each of her first five collegiate games.
• The freshman from Urbana, Iowa is averaging 7.2 rebounds per game- the most of any MVC freshmen and ranks her 21st nationally amongst freshmen.
Making the Extra Pass
• SIU dished out a season-high 22 assists on 28 field goals in its win over Kansas City on Dec. 17.
• It was the most for the Salukis in a game since they recorded 26 in a 99-60 win over Evansville on Feb. 23, 2020.
• The Salukis have assisted on 67-percent of their made baskets this season- which ranks 17th nationally.
