Preview | Women's Basketball Welcomes UIC for "SIH Blackout Cancer Game" on Sunday

CARBONDALE, Ill. - On Sunday, the Southern Illinois University women's basketball team (4-18 overall, 2-11 conference) will host UIC at 2 p.m. for the "SIH Blackout Cancer Game" at the Banterra Center.

HOW TO WATCH/LISTEN

To watch the Salukis take on the Flames, tune into ESPN+ at 2 p.m. on Sunday where Dominic Hoscher (play-by-play) and Saluki Hall of Famer Jamaal Tatum (analyst) will have the call.
Larry Larson will have the radio call on NewsRadio WJPF 107.9 FM for both games.

GAME PROMOTION

Southern's game on Sunday is the "SIH Blackout Cancer Game". The Salukis will be wearing black and pink jerseys that have the names of donating fans on the back.

QUICK HITS

Southern Illinois holds a record of 4-18 overall and 2-11 in conference play.
SIU was held to its fourth lowest point total of the season on Thursday in its 83-48 loss to Missouri State.
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 11th in the Valley standings and shares the same conference record, 2-11, as both Evansville and Indiana State. All three teams are one game back of Bradley in ninth place. Missouri State has moved up to first place in the MVC after defeating SIU on Thursday.
The Salukis are 11th in both scoring offense (59.2) and 12th in scoring defense (75.3). 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 18 games.
SIU leads the conference and ranks 54th in the NCAA in blocks-per-game (4.1). The Salukis have had at least three blocks in 17 games, and have at least seven blocks in three-straight games. Against Missouri State, Southern had a season-high nine blocks, its most since the 2022-23 season (12 vs. Evansville on Feb. 25, 2023).

LEADING THE SALUKIS

Gift Uchenna is 12th in the Valley in scoring (15.0), first in rebounding (13.4), first in offensive rebounding (5.2), and is first in blocks-per-game (2.4). Across the NCAA, Uchenna is second in rebounding and offensive rebounding, 11th in blocks per game, and is tied for third in the country in double doubles (16). The junior has recorded a double-double in eight of her last nine games.
Kayla Cooper has scored in double figures in three of her last five games after having one such outing in her previous five appearances. During this span, Cooper is averaging 12.6 points, 1.6 three pointers, and 1.2 steals-per-game. The sophomore has played fewer than 30 minutes in back-to-back games. Cooper had played at least 30 minutes in each of the previous 14 games.
Isabella Palmqvist scored a tied for team-high 11 points on Thursday, her ninth game in double figures. Palmqvist has made a three-pointer in four consecutive games and ranks 17th in three pointer's made-per-game (1.5). The freshman is also 16th in three-point percentage (.324).
Tkiyah Nelson tallied her 33rd steal of the season on Thursday, which is tied for ninth in the conference with Kayla Cooper. Nelson has had multiple steals in 10 games, including a tied for career-high four steals three games ago against Evansville on Feb. 7. In terms of scoring, the sophomore has been held to single digits five consecutive games. Nelson's last game in double figures came on Jan. 26 vs. Drake when she scored 10 points against the Bulldogs.
Tyranny Brown played 28 minutes last Sunday against Indiana State, 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 five-straight starts for SIU after coming off the bench in her previous nine games. Curman scored eight points on 4-of-7 shooting from the field vs. the Lady Bears, which tied a season-high in terms of field goals made.

LOOKING AT UIC

The Flames head into Carbondale with a record of 6-7 in conference play and 9-13 overall. On the road, UIC holds a record of 2-5 this season.
In its last game, UIC fell, 60-51, at Valparaiso on Thursday night. The Flames struggled offensively in the loss, shooting 34.5% from the field and 2-of-17 (11.8%) from three-point range.
UIC is seventh in the MVC in scoring offense (66.3) and fourth in scoring defense (64.5).
Makiyah Williams leads the Flames in scoring, averaging 10.9 points-per-game.

SERIES HISTORY

The Salukis are 13-6 against the Flames all-time. This will be the lone meeting in the regular season between the two teams.
Last season, SIU and UIC split the season series, with both teams winning on the road in 2023-24.

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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