SIUE Cougars (0-2, 0-0 OVC)
at Purdue Boilermakers (2-0, 0-0 B1G)
Thursday, November 17th, 6:00 PM CT
Mackey Arena, West Lafayette, IndianaÂ
LAST GAME: Niya Danfort led SIUE with 16 points while Mikayla Kinnard added 10, but Eastern Michigan prevailed to down the Cougars 71-62 on Sunday afternoon. Danfort and Kinnard also led the Cougars with seven rebounds each. SIUE shot 36 percent in the game and the bench scored 29 points. The Cougars outscored the Eagles by 10 points in the second half and cut their deficit to seven points after a 12-0 run midway through the fourth quarter.
NI-YEAH: Junior Guard Niya Danfort leads the Cougars with 21 points through two games this season. The 5-5 transfer from Rend Lake CC also leads SIUE with 11 rebounds and four assists.
BLOCK PARTY: Senior forward Ajulu Thatha is tied for second in the Ohio Valley Conference averaging 1.5 blocks through her first two games. Macy McGlone of Eastern Illinois leads the league averaging 2.0.
ROAD RUNNERS: The Cougars will play as the visitors in eight of their 11 nonconference games to start the season, including six straight before conference play. SIUE is home against Eastern Michigan, Memphis, and Xavier.Â
READY TO COMPETE IN MARCH: In its nonconference schedule, SIUE plays four games against power-five conference schools (Purdue, Iowa State, Louisville, and Washington).
TABBED SIXTH: The preseason OVC poll predicted a sixth-place finish for the Cougars this season. Tennessee Tech was selected as regular season champions with 11 first-place votes.
AT THE HELM: Samantha Quigley Smith is beginning her second season in charge of the Cougars. She owns a 13-20 record at SIUE and a combined collegiate record of 163-60 as head coach.
