Preview | Women's Basketball Faces Tough Test on Thursday at Home vs. Missouri State

CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois University women's basketball team (4-17 overall, 2-10 conference) will continue its four-game homestand on Thursday at 6 p.m. when it hosts Missouri State.

HOW TO WATCH/LISTEN

Tune into ESPN+ at 6 p.m. for SIU's game against Missouri State. Dominic Hoscher and Saluki Hall of Famer Jamaal Tatum will be on the call.
Larry Larson will have the radio call on NewsRadio WJPF 107.9 FM for both games.

QUICK HITS

Southern Illinois fell to 4-17 overall and 2-10 in conference play after suffering an 87-63 loss to Indiana State on Sunday.
The Salukis had seven blocks in both of their games last week against Evansville and Indiana State. Prior to last weekend, Southern Illinois had seven blocks in a game once in its first 15 games.
In conference games, SIU is ninth in scoring offense (60.2) and 12th in scoring defense (78.2).
Gift Uchenna was named the MVC Newcomer of the Week for the fourth time this season on Monday. Uchenna averaged 16.0 points, 16.5 rebounds, and 3.0 rebounds-per-game during SIU's two-game week vs. Evansville and Indiana State.
Southern Illinois is 10th in the Valley standings and shares the same conference record, 2-10, as 11th place Indiana State. SIU is one game ahead of Evansville in 12th, and one game back of Bradley in ninth. Belmont is alone in first place at 11-1 in league play.
The Salukis are 11th in both overall scoring offense (59.8) and in scoring defense (74.9). Southern Illinois has reached 70 points in four games, with each of its last two being against Evansville.
Southern Illinois leads the MVC in offensive rebounding (13.5) and have had double-digit offensive boards in 17 games. Against Indiana State, SIU had 20 offensive boards. This was the second time this season the Salukis have reached at least 20 offensive rebounds (26 on Dec. 2 vs. Central Methodist).
SIU ranks second in the MVC and 72nd in the country in blocks-per-game (3.86). The Salukis have had at least three blocks in 16 games, and have had seven in three.

LEADING THE SALUKIS

Gift Uchenna is ninth in the Valley in scoring (15.2), first in rebounding (13.5), first in offensive rebounding (5.4), and is first in blocks-per-game (2.3). Across the NCAA, Uchenna is second in rebounding and offensive rebounding, 12th in blocks per game, and is fifth in double doubles (15). The junior has recorded a double-double in seven of her last eight games.
Kayla Cooper has scored in double figures in three of her last four games after having one such outing in her previous five appearances. During this span, Cooper is averaging 14.0 points, 1.8 three pointers, and 1.3 steals-per-game. On Sunday against Indiana State, the sophomore played 23 minutes, her fewest since playing 17 at IU Indy on Nov. 16. Cooper had played at least 30 minutes in each of the last 14 games.
Isabella Palmqvist hit multiple three pointers for the second consecutive game on Sunday and has had at least two three pointers made in 10 games total. Along with her eight points against the Sycamores, Palmqvist also had a career-high six rebounds and tied a career-high in assists with four. Across the MVC, the freshman is 16th in three-point percentage and tied for 17th in three pointers-per-game at 1.5. Palmqvist is 32-of-93 from beyond the arc this season.
Tkiyah Nelson's 12 field-goal attempts vs. Indiana State were a career-high, topping her previous mark of 10 attempts at Missouri State on Jan. 12. After posting a career-best four steals on Friday against Evansville, Nelson did not record a steal vs. the Sycamores. This was only the fifth time this season where the sophomore has been held without a steal, and the guard ranks 10th in the MVC in steals-per-game (1.5). Cooper is one spot ahead in ninth at 1.6.
Tyranny Brown played 28 minutes on Sunday, her most since playing 28 on Dec. 22 vs. UAB. Brown is looking to reach double figures for the first time since scoring 10 points on Dec. 2 vs. Central Methodist. The senior is the lone member of the 2021-22 MVC regular season championship team that is still on the Saluki roster.
Alice Curman has made four-straight starts for SIU after coming off the bench in her previous nine games. Curman had one of her more well-rounded outings last Friday vs. Evansville, scoring 10 points on 3-of-6 field-goal shooting and 2-of-3 three-point shooting with four assists, two blocks, and three steals.

LOOKING AT MISSOURI STATE

Missouri State is in second place in the Valley with a 10-2 conference record and 18-5 overall record.
Over their last 10 games, the Lady Bears are 9-1 with their lone loss being at Illinois State on Feb. 2.
Missouri State is fifth in the MVC in scoring offense (73.0) and second in scoring defense (61.9).
Lacy Stokes' average of 12.2 points-per-game leads the Lady Bears and ranks 20th in the Valley.

SERIES HISTORY

Southern holds a record of 31-64 against Missouri State all-time. This will be the 96th meeting.
On Jan. 12, the Lady Bears won their sixth-straight game vs. the Salukis, 75-37, in Springfield, Mo. SIU shot 21% from the field and 11% (2-of-18) from deep in the loss.

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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