Southern Illinois University
Evansville
Salukis ready for MVC opener against Evansville
12/28/2022 | 9:22:00 | Women's Basketball
Southern Illinois takes on Evansville Thursday in its Missouri Valley Conference opener as the Salukis look to give their season a restart with conference play.
SIU is the defending MVC Regular Season Champions and have won nine-straight conference openers with its last loss coming against Creighton in 2013.
The Salukis are coming off of a 3-6 non-conference slate where they fell to Saint Louis University in their last game before Valley play a week ago.
All-Time vs. Evansville
• Wednesday will be the 45th meeting between Southern Illinois and Evansville.
• The Salukis lead the all-time series 25-19.
• SIU won the last matchup 80-66 on Feb. 26, 2022.
• Evansville won the first matchup 78-60 on Dec. 30, 2000.
Last time out
• Southern fell 82-54 to Saint Louis University on Dec. 21.
• Ashley Jones (13 points) and Promise Taylor (13 points) led the Salukis in scoring.
• SIU was 21-64 (32.8%) from the field, 7-20 (35%) from 3-point range and 5-10 (50%) from the free-throw line.
• Seven Salukis had at least three rebounds in the loss to the Billikens. Laniah Randle (6 rebounds), Seairra Hughes (5 rebounds) and Taylor (6 rebounds) led the way on the boards.
• Seairra Hughes earned her first Saluki start and Adrianna Katcher saw her first action of the year for Southern.
Scouting Evansville
• The Purple Aces are 5-3 on the year and have won three of their last four games.
• Evansville had its last matchup (Dec. 22) with UT Martin postponed because of weather.
• The only common opponent as Southern is Chicago State with the Purple Aces winning 82-57 on Nov. 16.
• Abby Feit (14.8 ppg, 9.9 rpg) leads Evansville as she nearly averages a double-double per game. Myia Clark and A'Niah Griffin are also averaging double digits as each are at 11.1 ppg this season.
• Clark recently scored her 1,000th collegiate point when the Purple Aces took on SEMO.
MVC Opener
• Southern Illinois has won its last nine MVC openers, the longest streak in the Valley.
• The Salukis last loss in an MVC opener was Jan. 3, 2013 to former valley-member Creighton.
Sharing the Love
•Junior guard Quierra Love is currently leads the MVC in assists per game (5.3) and assist/turnover ratio (2.8).
• During Southern's recent two-game stretch with 62 assists, Love dished out 20.
Stacking up against the MVC
• Southern is currently 2nd in the MVC in PPG at 75.7.
• Ashley Jones is 6th in the MVC in scoring at 15.0 ppg.
• Promise Taylor is 3rd in blocks (2.0 per game) and T14th in the MVC at 6.2 rebounds per game.
• Laniah Randle is 17th in rebounds at 5.9 rpg.
• Ashley Jones is 12th in FT%.
• Jaidynn Mason is 3rd in steals per game at 2.1 per game. Love is T6th at 1.8 steals per game. Jones is 7th at 1.6 SPG.
• Aja Holmes and Ashley Jones are 7th in 3PT per game at 2.3.
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