Salukis look to get back-on-track Saturday versus Valparaiso

CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois University women's basketball team (7-13) will conclude its four-game homestand on Saturday against Valparaiso (4-16) at 2 p.m. on ESPN3.

HOW TO WATCH/LISTEN

Saturday's game between the Salukis and Beacons will be televised on ESPN3 at 2 p.m. Dominic Hoscher (play-by-play) and Mike Trude (analyst) will have the call. Trey Reamer will have the radio call on 95.1 Steve FM.

QUICK HITS

The Salukis enter Saturday with an overall record of 7-13 and a Missouri Valley Conference record of 4-7.
In their last game, the Salukis lost, 70-68, to Missouri State on Wednesday night. SIU out-scored the Lady Bears, 27-25, in the fourth quarter, but fell short in its closest loss of the season.
Ashley Jones led the way for SIU with 23 points and seven rebounds, followed by Shemera Williams who scored 14 points and shot 9-of-10 at the free throw line.
Jones was named the Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week for the first time in her career after her performances against Drake and UNI last week. The graduate student averaged 26.0 points-per-game on 56% shooting to go along with 5.5 assists-per-game during the two-game week.
With its 4-7 Valley record, Southern Illinois is in 10th place in the conference, two games ahead of Valparaiso (2-9) in 11th.
The Salukis are third in the MVC in scoring offense, averaging 71.7 points-per-game. The average ranks 70th in the NCAA.
SIU is sixth in the conference in field-goal percentage (41%) and second in three-point percentage (34%). The Salukis are 74th in the country in three-point shooting.
The Salukis have played well along the offensive glass so far this season, as they are tied for second in offensive rebounds-per-game (12.0).
On the defensive end, SIU is second in the Valley in blocks-per-game (4.55) and first in steals-per-game (10.20). In the NCAA, Southern is 34th in steals and 35th in blocks.
The Salukis are fourth in the MVC in assists-per-game at 14.3.
After Saturday's game, Southern will travel to Illinois State on Feb. 10, followed by a trip to Bradley on Feb. 12.

LEADING THE SALUKIS

Ashley Jones is the team's leading scorer, averaging 16.2 points-per-game. The graduate student is fourth in the Valley in scoring, 12th in assists-per-game (3.3), and 12th in free throw percentage (76%).
Jones has scored 932 points in her collegiate career, sitting just 68 points away from 1,000. She has spent time at West Virginia, Temple, Mississippi State, and now SIU.
Promise Taylor leads the Valley and is tied for eighth in the country in blocks-per-game at 2.6.
Quierra Love's average of 3.9 assists-per-game ranks fifth in the MVC, while her 2.1 assist/turnover ratio is second and tied for 48th in the NCAA.
Love is also tied for the third-most steals-per-game in the conference with freshman Jaidynn Mason, as both are averaging 2.0 steals-per-game.
Laniah Randle leads the team in rebounds-per-game at 6.1.

LOOKING AT VALPARAISO

The Beacons come into Carbondale with a record of 4-16 overall and 2-9 in conference play.
Valpo sits 11th in the MVC, one spot ahead of Bradley who is 0-10 in league action.
In their last game, the Beacons fell, 55-53, at home against UIC. Similar to SIU's loss against Missouri State, Valparaiso had a late-comeback effort in the fourth quarter come up just short, out-scoring the Flames, 21-15, in the final 10 minutes.
Olivia Brown's 16 points paced the Beacons in the loss.
Valparaiso is 10th in the Valley in scoring offense, averaging 59.8 points-per-game, and 10th in scoring defense, allowing 71.4 points-per-game.
The Beacons are fifth in the conference in three-pointers made, averaging 7.4 a game.
Valpo is also fifth in the MVC in free throw shooting (71%).
Brown leads the Beacons in scoring, posting 12.3 points-per-game, and is second in the Valley in three-point shooting at 46%. The percentage ranks eighth in the NCAA.
Leah Earnest's 8.0 rebounds-per-game lead the team and are tied for fifth in the MVC.

SERIES HISTORY

Since 2017, the Salukis are 6-4 against the Beacons. This will be the first and only meeting during the regular season for the two programs.

FOLLOW THE SALUKIS

Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Salukis by following the team on Twitter at @SIU_WBasketball, on Instagram at @SIU_WBasketball, and on Facebook at Facebook.com/SalukiAthletics. Fans can also download the "Salukis" Mobile App on the App Store or Google Play Store.

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Players Mentioned

Ashley Jones

Quierra Love

Jaidynn Mason

Laniah Randle

Promise Taylor

Shemera Williams

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