Preview | Women's Basketball Travels to Belmont, Murray State for Final Two Road Games

CARBONDALE, Ill. - The Southern Illinois University women's basketball team (4-21 overall, 2-14 conference) is set for its final two road games of the regular season this week, as it travels to Belmont on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. and Murray State on Saturday at 2 p.m.

HOW TO WATCH/LISTEN

Both of SIU's games this week will be on ESPN+. Dr. Rich Tiner (play-by-play) and Ellie Harmeyer Strutz (analyst) will have the call on Thursday in Nashville.
Larry Larson will have the radio call on NewsRadio WJPF 107.9 FM for both games.

QUICK HITS

Southern Illinois holds a record of 4-21 overall and 2-14 in conference play.
Southern is averaging 37.2 rebounds-per-game, its best rebounding average since the 2018-19 season when it averaged 38.1 rebounds-per-game.
The Salukis are 12th in both scoring offense (57.6) and in scoring defense (75.5). Southern Illinois has reached 70 points in four games, but hasn't since scoring 72 vs. Evansville on Feb. 7.
Southern Illinois is second in the MVC in offensive rebounding (13.1) and has had double-digit offensive boards in 20 games. Its seven offensive boards against Drake last Thursday, however, were tied for its fewest this season (also had seven vs. Louisiana Monroe on Nov. 13).
SIU leads the conference and is 75th in the NCAA in blocks-per-game (3.84). The Salukis have had at least three blocks in 18 games.

LEADING THE SALUKIS

Gift Uchenna is averaging a program-record 13.2 rebounds-per-game, and her 329 total rebounds are the second-most in a single season in SIU history. Uchenna is 12 rebounds away from tying Saluki Hall of Famer Dyana Pierre's record of 341 rebounds, which was set in 2015. The junior is second in the nation in rebounding and offensive rebounding (5.2), 22nd in blocks-per-game (2.16), and is tied for fourth in double doubles (17).
Kayla Cooper led the Salukis in scoring on Saturday at UNI, posting 14 points in the loss. This was Cooper's first time in double figures since scoring 10 at Indiana State on Feb. 9, and her 10th game this season scoring at least 10 points. The sophomore has also played at 33 minutes in three straight games and in MVC games, the guard is fourth in the conference in minutes-per-game (33.5).
Isabella Palmqvist has made 35 three pointers, the eighth-most by an SIU freshman in program history. They are also the most by a Saluki freshman since Makenzie Silvey made 52 shots from deep in 2017-18. After coming off the bench for Southern's first four conference games, Palmqvist has started in every game since for the Salukis.
Tkiyah Nelson was held without a steal for only the sixth time this season on Saturday at UNI. Nelson's 36 total steals are tied with Cooper for a team-high and rank 10th in the MVC. The sophomore has had multiple steals in 11 games, and a career-high four steals in two games, most recently on Feb. 7 vs. Evansville.
Tyranny Brown scored 12 points in Saturday's loss, her first time in double figures since tallying 10 points vs. Central Methodist on Dec. 2. Brown has played a larger role in recent games for the Salukis, making back-to-back starts and was featured in a season-high 32 minutes on Saturday. The senior is the lone member of the 2021-22 MVC Regular Season Championship team that is still on the Saluki roster.

LOOKING AT BELMONT

The Bruins are looking to snap a four-game losing streak on Thursday vs. SIU.
Belmont sits in fifth place in the Valley at 11-5 in conference and 16-11 overall. It shares the same league record as fourth-place Illinois State and is one game back of Murray State and Drake in second and third.
Kendal Cheesman leads the Bruins in scoring, averaging 12.9 points-per-game. Right behind Cheesman is Jailyn Banks, who is averaging 12.4 points-per-game.

LOOKING AT MURRAY STATE

Murray State holds a record of 18-7 overall and 12-4 in conference play. Murray has won three consecutive games.
The Racers are in second place in the Valley and share the same league record as Drake in third. Both teams are two games back of first-place Missouri State at 14-2.
Katelyn Young leads the team and is 12th in the country in scoring, averaging 21.2 points-per-game.

SERIES HISTORY

Southern is 0-7 all-time vs. Belmont in a series that dates back to 2002. The Bruins defeated the Salukis, 79-66, in Carbondale on Jan. 4 in the last meeting.
Against Murray State, SIU is 41-9 all-time. The Racers have won four straight against the Salukis, however, including a 93-69 victory in Carbondale on Jan. 2.

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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