Women's Basketball hosts South Dakota State Saturday
12/08/2005 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 8, 2005
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By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
Date: Saturday, Dec. 10
Tip Off: 2:05 p.m., CST
Site: SIU Arena (10,014)
The Series: First Meeting
Head Coaches: SIU: Dana Eikenberg (6-27/2nd Year)
SDSU: Aaron Johnston (130-42/5th Year)
Rankings: Neither team is ranked
Audio Webcast: www.siusalukis.com
Livestats: www.siusalukis.com
Nice to Meet You
SDSU marks the second opponent SIU plays for the first time this season. The Salukis beat Weber State, 55-48, in the inaugural meeting between the two teams on Nov. 19.
Jackrabbits Recently Join D-I Ranks
SDSU moved up to the Division I ranks at the start of the 2004-05 season. Since then, the Jackrabbits have posted a 12-9 mark against D-I opponents. SDSU heads to Wisconsin prior to visiting Carbondale this weekend.
Salukis Go After Third Win at Home
With a win against SDSU Saturday, SIU will match its total number of home victories in the last two years. The Salukis have gone a combined 3-20 at home over the 2003-04 (1-10) and 2004-05 (2-10) campaigns. SIU, who beat Weber State (11/19) and South Alabama (11/25) at home this year, has not posted a winning record at SIU Arena since 1996-97 (8-4).
Morris Delivers in Starting Role
After coming off the bench in her first four games this season, sophomore Elyse Morris has made back-to-back starts for the Dawgs. A native of Prophetstown, Ill., Morris had 10 points and six rebounds inTMTM her first start against Indiana on Dec. 2. Three days later, she led SIU with 15 points and seven boards against Tennessee Tech. Morris, who tops the Salukis with 6.5 rebounds per game, has scored 10 or more points in three of her last four games and is no stranger to the starting lineup after making 26 of 27 starts a year ago.
Fresh off the Bench
Led by freshman Jasmine Gibson, the Saluki bench has outscored its opponents, 112-70 in six games this season. Gibson, who hails from Kansas City, Mo., recently scored double-digits for the second time with 12 points against Tennessee Tech (12/5). Gibson's dozen fueled an 18-4 boost for the Saluki reserves in Cookeville. The Valley's leader in field goal percentage (.690), Gibson averages 7.3 points and 4.5 rebounds in 18.8 minutes off the bench.
Post Play Struggles
SIU is being outscored by its opponents, 150-100, inside the paint. The Salukis have led their foes in that category just twice this season with a 38-32 advantage against Murray State (11/22) and a 12-8 edge vs. South Alabama (11/25). In their last two games alone, the Dawgs have been outscored, 46-8, down low.
About the Jackrabbits
Life as an Independent: The Jackrabbits, who are in search of conference affiliation play an independent schedule for the second year in a row. SDSU has games scheduled against schools from 14 different NCAA Division I conferences and one Division II conference. The Jackrabbits also play four different Division I independents and one D-II independent this season. Scouting Report: Since moving up to the Division I ranks at the start of the 2004-05 season, SDSU has posted a winning record against D-I opponents. The Jackrabbits, who play at Wisconsin prior to visiting Carbondale this weekend, are 12-9 against the D-I opposition. So far this season, SDSU is off to a 4-2 start. The Jackrabbits have beaten Nebraska, Colorado State, UC-Irvine and Wisconsin-Milwaukee, while losing to Drake and Middle Tennessee State. Junior forward Megan Vogel and freshman guard Ashlea Muckenhirn top the Jackrabbits with 14.3 and 10.5 points, respectively. Vogel is on pace to reach the 1,000-point plateau in her SDSU career, while Muckenhirn has yet to make a collegiate start. Before Division I: Under the direction of fifth-year head coach Aaron Johnston, the Jackrabbit women's basketball team made three consecutive NCAA Division II Elite Eight appearances and won the first national championship in the program's history (2002-03) before joining the Division I ranks. In its first year of Division I basketball last season, SDSU went 21-7.
Possessions Away
Whether it's been on the offensive or defensive end, SIU has been possessions away from catching its opponent the last two games. Against Indiana (12/2), SIU shot 1-of-12 from the field in the last eight minutes, while the Hoosiers made only one field goal. Against Tennessee Tech, the Dawgs struggled to get the defensive stops they needed, and as a result, fouled 21 times, including 12 in the second half. The Salukis managed to cut double-digit leads down to four (45-41, 10:05 at TTU) and three (60-57, 2:13 vs. IU) points in the last 10 minutes of those games, but couldn't capitalize.
Lineup Changes
SIU switched its starting lineup for the first time this season against Indiana (12/2). After Amy Hayden, Gentry Dietz, Carlai Moore, Erin Pauk and Jayme Sweere started the first four games, Elyse Morris and Katy Freeman replaced Hayden and Dietz the last two games. Since the change, SIU has gone 0-2 with its new lineup.
It's Been Awhile
SIU has not led an opponent since the 9:29 mark of the first half against Indiana (12/2). Jayme Sweere's three-pointer gave the Salukis an 18-16 lead at the time. Since then, SIU has gone 50 minutes and 31 seconds without leading an opponent.
Under 10
Carlai Moore and Erin Pauk were held under double figures in the scoring column for the first time this season against Tennessee Tech (12/5). Pauk shot 3-of-10 from the field en route to nine points, while Moore, troubled by four fouls, had eight points on 4-of-9 field goals.
Up Next
SIU heads to Missouri on Sunday, Dec. 18. Tip off is at 6 p.m., CST.
