SIUE Cougars (0-5, 0-0 OVC)
at Iowa State Cyclones (5-1, 0-0 BIG 12)
Tuesday, November 29th, 6:30 PM CT
Hilton Coliseum (14,267), Ames, Iowa

LAST GAME: The Cougars entered the locker room with their first lead of the season ahead 38-30 at half but couldn't hold on as Xavier bested the Cougars 73-65 on Sunday afternoon at First Community Arena. The Cougars led by as much as 11 in the first half, shooting 43 percent from the floor and outrebounded Xavier 24-17. Xavier found its footing in the third quarter and shot 56 percent (9-16), taking a five-point advantage after the quarter. The Musketeers held their lead for the remainder of the contest.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE TROUBLE: Senior forward Ajulu Thatha collected a career-high 14 rebounds and added 14 points on Sunday vs. Xavier. Her double- double marked the fourth of her career and fifth 10+ rebounding effort. Thatha leads the Cougars averaging 7.0 rebounds per contest and ranks third in the OVC.

GAME OF TWO HALVES: The Cougars have scored 165 of their 272 total points (61 percent) through five games in the second half. SIUE has been outscored 222-107 in the first half.

BOARDS AND SCORES: Sophomore guard Sofie Lowis recorded a career-high six rebounds vs. Xavier on    Sunday. She also added a team-high 17 points, the most by a Cougar this season.

CRASH THE GLASS: SIUE's 35.0 rebounds per game ranks third in the OVC behind Eastern Illinois (39.5) and Morehead State (36.5).

WINNING DOESN'T COME EASY: SIUE is without a win through its first five games for the first time since the 1982-83 season.

NI-YEAH: Junior Guard Niya Danfort leads the Cougars averaging 11.3 points per game through her first three games this season. The 5-5 transfer from Rend Lake CC also has 14 rebounds, good for third on SIUE.

ROAD RUNNERS: The Cougars will play as the visitors in eight of their 11 nonconference games to start the season, including the next six. 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).

AT THE HELM: Samantha Quigley Smith is in her second season in charge of the Cougars. She owns a 13-23 record at SIUE and a combined collegiate record of 163-64 as head coach.