Women's Basketball to host Illinois-Springfield in exhibition play
11/04/2010 | 12:00:00 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 4, 2010
By Bill Ford
SIUSalukis.com
GAME INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, Nov. 6
Time: 4:30 p.m. CST
Location: Carbondale, Ill.
Site: SIU Arena (8,500)
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TEAM FACTS
Southern Illinois Salukis (0-0)
Head Coach: Missy Tiber, Second Year (172-94 overall, 4-25 at SIU)
2009-10 Record: 5-24, 4-14 Missouri Valley Conference
Illinois-Springfield Prairie Stars (0-0)
Head Coach: Marne Fauser, Second Year (3-24 overall and at UIS)
2009-10 Record: 3-24, 0-18 Great Lakes Valley Conference
DAWG BITES
The Southern Illinois women's basketball team is in its 52nd year of existence. Head Coach Missy Tiber is in her second season with the team and holds a 172-94 (.647) career record entering her 10th season as a head coach. Last season the Salukis finished with a 5-24 record and were 4-14 in the Missouri Valley Conference. Southern returns five letterwinners and two starters from the 2009-10 squad and welcomes three transfers and eight freshmen.
SCOUTING ILLINOIS-SPRINGFIELD
UIS fell 78-28 at Illinois State Tuesday night in exhibition play. The Prairie Stars are in their second season competing at the NCAA Division II level, and the team's second year under head coach Marne Fauser. Last season, UIS finished with a 3-24 record with an 0-18 mark in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The Prairie Stars return just three players from the 2009-10 squad while welcoming four freshmen and five transfers.
A FAMILIAR FACE
SIU forward Rani Brandon and UIS guard Cristina Nevins were teammates the last two seasons at Parkland Community College. The duo helped the Cobras to a fourth-place finish in 2009 and a sixth-place finish in 2010 at the NJCAA National Tournament.
HER FINAL SWING
Saluki forward Katrina Swingler enters her final season at SIU as the only Saluki to play all four years in Carbondale. The Teutopolis, Ill., native averaged 7.8 points and 3.8 rebounds last season and looks to have a solid shot at a starting position on the 2010-11 squad.
SOPHOMORE SENSATION
Saluki sophomore Teri Oliver returns from a breakout freshman campaign in which she was named to the Missouri Valley Conference All-Freshman team. Oliver led all MVC freshmen with an average of 13.1 points per game and ranked third in the MVC with an average of 2.6 made 3-pointers per game. The Kokomo, Ind., native also shot 32.7 percent from beyond the arc and 78.8 percent from the free throw line last season.
A RENOVATED EXPERIENCE
The contest against UIS will be the Salukis' debut in the newly renovated SIU Arena. Fans in the new arena will be greeted by a new entrance and lobby area, as well as a concourse encircling the upper bowl of the arena featuring an athletic ticket office, a Saluki Team Store, expanded concessions and new restrooms. The upgraded SIU Arena also features a VIP Club Room and a state of-the-art scoreboard with individual statistics and replay capability. In addition, the retrofitted arena features all new chairback seating, including chairbacks in the permanent upper bowl.
SALUKIS PICKED 9TH IN PRESEASON POLL
The annual poll of Missouri Valley Conference coaches, media and sports information directors ranked the Salukis in the same spot they finished the 2009-10 season. SIU garnered 83 points in the poll, which was topped by Missouri State. With four returning starters, including reigning MVC Player of the Year Casey Garrison, the Bears were tabbed as the preseason conference favorite with 385 points and 27 first-place votes.
NEXT UP
The Salukis will play the first regular-season game in the newly renovated SIU Arena Nov. 12 when SIU welcomes UT Martin to Carbondale.
