Preview | Southern Illinois Faces Bradley on Sunday to Conclude Two Game Road Trip

PEORIA, Ill. - The Southern Illinois University women's basketball team (3-15 overall, 1-8 conference) is heading to Peoria, Ill., on Sunday to face Bradley at 2 p.m.

HOW TO WATCH/LISTEN

To watch the Salukis battle the Braves on Sunday, tune into ESPN+ at 2 p.m. Cody Schindler and Michael Goff will have the call.
Larry Larson will be doing the broadcasting duties on NewsRadio WJPF 107.9 FM.

QUICK HITS

The Salukis enter Sunday's game in Peoria with a record of 3-15 overall and 1-8 in conference play.
After both Isabella Palmqvist (20) and Mia Gaines (13) scored career high's last Sunday vs. Drake, Kayla Cooper had a career-best 21 points in SIU's 78-60 loss at Illinois State on Friday. The Salukis had 22 turnovers in the loss and are now 0-7 when turning the ball over 20 or more times,
Since conference play began, the Salukis are averaging 60.1 points-per-game, which is 11th in the Valley, and are allowing 79.3, ranking 12th.
SIU had 41 rebounds on Friday, its third-most this season and most since posting 52 at Indiana State on Jan. 16. The Salukis have reached 50-plus rebounds twice, and are 2-0 in those games.
Southern Illinois is in 11th place in the MVC and is one of three teams with a 1-8 Valley record (Indiana State and Evansville). Murray State, Belmont, and Missouri State all sit at the top at 8-1.
The Salukis are 11th in overall scoring offense (59.7) and 10th in scoring defense (74.9). Southern Illinois has reached 70 points in three games, with the last being on Sunday, Jan. 19, at Evansville.
Southern Illinois leads the conference in offensive rebounding (13.7) and have had double-digit offensive boards in 15 games. The offensive rebounding average ranks 54th in the NCAA.
SIU ranks second in the MVC in blocks-per-game (3.61). The Salukis have had at least three blocks in 14 games, and in last 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 (15.3), first in rebounding (13.2), first in offensive rebounding (5.6), and is tied for first in blocks-per-game (2.3). Across the NCAA, Uchenna is second in rebounding, first in offensive rebounding, tied for 15th in blocks per game, and is tied for fifth in double doubles (12). 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 had 21 points at Illinois State, which set a new career-high. Cooper was efficient from deep, going 3-of-6 from beyond the arc against the Redbirds. The sophomore has converted on a three-pointer in four consecutive games and has made multiple three's in six games. Cooper also had a steal for the fourth straight game and ranks 10th in the Valley in steals-per-game (1.6).
Over her last four games, Isabella Palmqvist is averaging 13.0 points, 1.0 steal, and 2.5 three pointer's. Palmqvist's 27 total three's are tied for 17th in the league and in MVC only games, the freshman is 13th in three-point percentage (.359) and is tied for 14th in total three's (14).
Tkiyah Nelson is averaging 8.3 points, 3.3 assists, and 1.7 steals per game over her last three outings since being held to one point at Evansville on Jan. 19. Nelson has been busy at the free throw line during this stretch, going 13-of-18 (72%) over those three games. The sophomore's average of 1.5 steals per game ranks 11th 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 last 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. At Illinois State, Gaines had seven rebounds, her most so far this season, and two blocks. This was the third time the freshman has had multiple blocks in a game.

LOOKING AT BRADLEY

Bradley is 8-12 overall and 2-7 in MVC play heading into Sunday's matchup against the Salukis.
The Braves are on a six-game losing streak, with their last win being on Jan. 5 vs. Indiana State. Bradley has been held to below 70 points in 10 straight games.
In terms of scoring offense, Bradley is 12th in the Valley at 59.0 points-per-game. For scoring defense, the Braves are first at 58.5, which ranks 62nd in the country.
Soleil Barnes leads Bradley in scoring, averaging 15.3 points-per-game.

SERIES HISTORY

The Salukis are 57-30 all-time vs. the Braves and have won five of the last six meetings. Sunday's game will be the 88th meeting between SIU and Bradley.
In 2023-24, the two teams split the season series, as both Southern Illinois and Bradley won on their home floors. The last time the two met in Peoria was on Jan. 13, 2024, where the Braves won by a final score of 58-56.

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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