Memphis Tigers (2-1, 0-0 American)
at SIUE Cougars (0-3, 0-0 OVC)
Saturday, November 19th, 1:00 PM
First Community Arena (4,000), Edwardsville, Illinois

LAST GAME: Niya Danfort led SIUE with 13 points while Ajulu Thatha and Molly Sheehan added 11. Thatha also led all players with eight rebounds in the contest as the Cougars fell to Purdue, 100-58 on Thursday evening at Mackey Arena. The Boilermakers made quick work of SIUE, grabbing a 33-point lead at halftime. The Cougars responded with a 10-0 run at the start of the third quarter, shooting 54 percent overall and 46 percent from three-point territory in the second half.

NI-YEAH: Junior Guard Niya Danfort leads the Cougars with 34 points through the first three games this season. The 5-5 transfer from Rend Lake CC also has recorded 14 rebounds, good for second on SIUE.

BLOCK PARTY: Senior forward Ajulu Thatha is tied for third in the Ohio Valley Conference averaging 1.3 blocks through her first three games. Macy McGlone (Eastern Illinois) and Mya Davidon (Lindenwood) lead the league averaging 1.5.

SHOOTERS SHOOT: Sophomore Molly Sheehan is tied for seventh in the OVC with five three pointers this season. She finished 3-of-8 from behind the arc on Thursday at Purdue.

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. 

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.

KINNARD PRESEASON ALL-OVC: Senior guard Mikayla Kinnard earned preseason All-OVC honors on Oct. 18. The second-ranked scorer in the Cougar lineup last season, Kinnard averaged 12.7 points per game. She also led SIUE in assists (97) and was second in offensive rebounds (54).

AT THE HELM: Samantha Quigley Smith is in her second season in charge of the Cougars. She owns a 13-21 record at SIUE and a combined collegiate record of 163-61 as head coach.