Preview | Women's Basketball Heads to Normal on Friday to Visit Illinois State

CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois University women's basketball team (3-14 overall, 1-7 conference) will begin a two-game road trip on Friday at 6:30 p.m. in Normal, Ill., when it travels to Illinois State.

HOW TO WATCH/LISTEN

Southern's matchup against the Redbirds can be watched on ESPN+ at 6:30 p.m. on Friday night.
Larry Larson will be doing the broadcasting duties on NewsRadio WJPF 107.9 FM.

QUICK HITS

The Salukis are now 3-14 overall and 1-7 in conference play after losing three straight games. SIU has allowed an average of 87.3 points-per-game during the losing streak.
Southern was led by its freshmen on Sunday against Drake. The freshmen scored 40 of the team's 66 points, with both Isabella Palmqvist (20) and Mia Gaines (13) scoring career high's.
Since conference play began, the Salukis are averaging 59.3 points-per-game, which is 11th in the Valley, and are allowing 77.6, ranking 12th.
Against Drake, SIU had a season-high in free throws made (21) and free throws attempted (25). These were both the most the Salukis have had in a game since Feb. 17, 2024, at Indiana State (27-of-34 free throw shooting).
Southern Illinois is in 11th place in the MVC and is one of three teams with a 1-7 Valley record (Indiana State and Evansville). Murray State and Belmont are in first and second, at 8-1 respectively.
The Salukis are 11th in scoring offense (59.6) and 10th in scoring defense (74.8). Southern Illinois has reached 70 points in three games, with the last being Sunday, Jan. 19, at Evansville.
Southern Illinois leads the conference in offensive rebounding (13.5) and have had double-digit offensive boards in 14 games. The offensive rebounding average ranks 58th in the NCAA.
SIU ranks second in the conference in blocks-per-game (3.59). The Salukis have had at least three blocks in 13 games, and in Sunday's game vs. Drake, SIU had its second game with six blocks or more.

LEADING THE SALUKIS

Gift Uchenna is 10th in the Valley in scoring (15.5), first in rebounding (13.1), first in offensive rebounding (5.4), and is tied for first in blocks per game (2.3). Across the NCAA, Uchenna is second in rebounding, first in offensive rebounding, 16th in blocks per game, and is tied for eighth in double doubles (11). The junior is a three-time MVC Newcomer of the Week, and remains the lone player in the conference to be averaging a double-double.
Kayla Cooper has had a steal in three straight games, and multiple steals in seven games this season. Cooper's average of 1.7 steals per game is tied for seventh in the league. The sophomore is also second in assist/turnover ratio at 2.3, which ranks 37th in the country. Cooper is 11th in the Valley in assists per game (3.0) and has had at least three assists in four straight games.
Se'Quoia Allmond missed her seventh game of the season on Sunday. Prior to missing the last four games, Allmond was averaging 7.6 points-per-game, which was third on the team. The veteran guard has scored in double figures in four games this year, including a season-high 17 on Dec. 22 vs. UAB.
Isabella Palmqvist had a career-high 20 points against Drake, shooting 7-of-12 (58%) from the field and 3-of-5 (60%) from deep in the loss. Palmqvist has now scored in double figures in each of her last three games, averaging 16.3 points and 3.3 three pointers during that span. The freshman has scored in double figures in seven games this season.
Tkiyah Nelson had her fourth game with at least 10 points on Sunday, and her ninth game with multiple steals. Nelson is tied for 11th in steals per game (1.5) in the conference.
Tyranny Brown has scored in double figures in three games, with her last being on Dec. 2 vs. Central Methodist. Brown is the lone member of the 2021-22 MVC Regular Season Championship team on the Saluki roster.
Mia Gaines had her best game as a Saluki on Sunday against the Bulldogs. The freshman center posted a season-high 13 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field and 5-of-6 shooting at the free throw line. Gaines also had five rebounds, her fifth game with at least five boards.

LOOKING AT ILLINOIS STATE

Illinois State has won each of its last three games, improving its record to 12-7 overall and 6-2 in Valley play. The Redbirds are 6-3 at home this season.
The Redbirds have earned wins over Valparaiso, UIC, and Bradley during their winning streak. Illinois State has averaged 76.0 points-per-game over its last three outings.
Illinois State is third in the MVC in scoring offense, averaging 76.5 points-per-game. Defensively, ISU is sixth, allowing an average of 68.0 points-per-game.
Shannon Dowell's 15.9 points-per-game leads the team and ranks eighth in the conference.

SERIES HISTORY

SIU holds a record of 46-67 all-time against Illinois State. This will be the 114th meeting between the two programs.
Southern Illinois is looking to snap a five game losing skid vs. the Redbirds on Friday night. The Salukis last recorded a win over ISU on Feb. 20, 2022, in Normal, Ill. (SIU won, 65-49).

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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