Preview | Women's Basketball Begins Conference Play on Sunday at Valparaiso

CARBONDALE, Ill. - On Sunday, the Southern Illinois University women's basketball team (2-7) will begin Missouri Valley Conference play at Valparaiso at 1 p.m.

HOW TO WATCH/LISTEN

The Valley opener can be watched on ESPN+ on Sunday at 1 p.m. Brian Jennings and Renee Turpa will have the call.
Larry Larson will have the radio call on NewsRadio WJPF 107.9 FM.

QUICK HITS

Southern Illinois begins Missouri Valley Conference play with a record of 2-7 overall. The Salukis have lost three-straight heading into Sunday's game, averaging 56.7 points-per-game during that span.
In its last game, SIU suffered a 75-57 loss to UAB on Dec. 22. Southern was out-scored, 40-20, in the second half against the Blazers and allowed a field-goal percentage of 48.2%.
In 2023-24, the Salukis went 6-14 in MVC play. The last time SIU finished above .500 in conference play was during its regular season championship season in 2021-22 when it went 15-3.
The Salukis are ninth in the Missouri Valley Conference in scoring defense, allowing 70.6 points-per-game. Offensively, SIU is 12th, averaging 59.2 points-per-game.
Southern is seventh in the MVC in rebounding (36.8). In terms of offensive rebounding, SIU is second at 13.8, which also ranks 71st in the country.
SIU is fourth in the league in blocks-per-game (3.33), posting three against UAB. The Salukis have had at least three blocks in all but one game this season (two at North Texas).
Across the MVC, Southern is 12th in field-goal percentage (.354), ninth in three-point percentage (.304), and 10th in free throw percentage (.671).
Heading into league play, SIU is 11th in the conference. Both Southern and Indiana State have two non-conference wins.
Missouri State is in first at 8-3, followed by Murray State (6-3) and Bradley (5-4).
Kelly Bond-White is in her third season in Carbondale. The lone new faces on the coaching staff are Greg Brown (assistant coach) and Peyton Thevenot (graduate assistant).

LEADING THE SALUKIS

Gift Uchenna is averaging a team-high 15.0 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks-per-game, as well as 1.1 steals. Uchenna is the only player in the conference averaging a double-double, and the junior's five double doubles are tied for 26th in the nation. The forward is fourth in the NCAA in rebounding and first in offensive rebounds-per-game (5.4).
Se'Quoia Allmond made her first start of the season against UAB and scored a career-high 17 points. Allmond has scored in double figures in three of her last four appearances, and is now averaging 8.2 points-per-game, which is second on the team.
Kayla Cooper has now played at least 29 minutes in each of her last five games, with four starts during that span. Cooper has posted a three-point percentage of .444, which ranks fourth in the conference. The sophomore has made a three-pointer in seven games this season.
Isabella Palmqvist is averaging 7.4 points-per-game and has a .361 three-point percentage. Against UAB, Palmqvist went 0-of-2 from deep, marking only the second time this year the freshman has been unable to make a shot from beyond the arc. This snapped a seven-game streak of at least one three-pointer made.
Tkiyah Nelson is 10th in the Valley in steals-per-game (1.7). Nelson had two steals in SIU's last game, her fifth game this season with multiple steals.
Tyranny Brown's 7.2 points-per-game are the fifth-most on the team, while her .789 free throw percentage leads the Salukis. Brown has scored in double-figures in three games, but has been held to single digits in three-straight games.
Jeniah Thompson has played in back-to-back games after missing six games due to injury. Thompson is averaging 7.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.0 steal-per-game since her return. The veteran's 22 minutes against UAB are a season-high.

LOOKING AT VALPARAISO

Valpo holds a record of 4-7 entering Sunday's game. At home, the Beacons are 3-2.
The Beacons have lost two-straight games against Saint Louis on Dec. 18 and Detroit Mercy in double overtime on Dec. 21. Leah Earnest led the team with 24 points, followed by Layla Gold's 21.
Entering conference play, Valparaiso is seventh in the MVC in scoring (67.3) and fourth in scoring defense (66.0).
Earnest leads the Beacons and is seventh in the league in points-per-game (17.0).

SERIES HISTORY

Southern Illinois is 9-4 all-time vs. Valpo and have won three-straight against the Beacons.
SIU's last loss to Valparaiso came on March 5, 2022, in Valparaiso, Ind., where the Beacons won, 67-54. At Valpo, Southern is 4-1 in the series history.

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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