SIUE Cougars (2-9, 0-0 OVC)
at Loyola Chicago Ramblers (5-4, 0-0 A10)
Monday, Dec. 18, 2023 | 11:00 AM CT
Gentile Arena | Chicago, Illinois
50TH SEASON OF WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: The 2023-24 season marks the 50th season of women's basketball at SIUE. The Cougars own an all-time record of 686-646 since the program began in 1974.
LAST TIME OUT: Xavier began the contest on a 7-0 run and never looked back, holding its lead for the entirety of the contest to down SIUE women's basketball, 68-43, on Friday night at Cintas Center. The Cougars were held to 19 percent (10-52) overall while going 4-16 from long range and 19-25 at the free throw line. The Musketeers shot 47 percent (28-60) from the floor while going 8-24 from three-point territory. Xavier outrebounded SIUE 41-38, but the Cougars owned the offensive glass, besting the Musketeers 16-14. Lezhauria Williams led the rebounding efforts for the Cougars with a season-high seven. Sofie Lowis led the Cougars with 17 points, her sixth contest in double-figures this season and the 26th of her career.
SERIES HISTORY: Monday marks the eighth meeting between the Cougars and Ramblers dating back to 1979. Loyola Chicago have taken the first seven meetings between the two schools and both contests in Chicago.
DO IT FOR FREE: SIUE leads the Ohio Valley Conference and ranks 30th in the country with a .773 free throw percentage. The Cougars also rank second in the OVC in free throw attempts (20.5) and free throws made (15.8) per game. Ava Stoller's .868 percentage (33-38) at the stripe ranks second in the league.
SHOOTERS SHOOT: SIUE ranks second in the OVC and 89th in the country with a .341 three-point percentage. The Cougars lead the league with 79 three-pointers made. Three players appear in the top 10 of the league in three-point conversions: Lowis (22, t-4th), KK Rodriguez (20, t-7th) and Macy Silvey (20, t-7th). SIUE also ranks third in offensive scoring average at 69.5 points per contest.
NOT IN OUR HOUSE: SIUE ranks fourth in the OVC with 32 total blocks. Halle Smith leads the Cougars with 12, tied for second in the league. Olivia Clayton has tallied 11, which stacks up fifth in the league.
ATTACK THE GLASS: The Cougars have collected 397 rebounds, good for third in the OVC. SIUE's 124 rebounds on the offensive glass also ranks fourth. Stoller has grabbed 52 boards, which stacks up eighth in the conference.
SHARING IS CARING: SIUE's 13.8 assists per game ranks third in the OVC. Rodriguez leads SIUE averaging 3.3 per game, good for sixth in the OVC. Stoller's 2.9 assists per game stacks up ninth in the league.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Rodriguez earned her third consecutive OVC Player of the Week honor on Dec. 5 after scoring 46 points over two contests at Michigan and versus Northern Illinois. She scored 12 against the Wolverines before tallying a career-high 34 in SIUE's win over NIU Sunday. Rodriguez finished the week averaging 23.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.0 steals per game. She also received the honor on Nov. 21 and Nov. 28.
LEAN ON LOWIS: Lowis has scored in double-figures in four of her last five games, averaging 12.8 points per game during that span. Her 9.7 points per game this season ranks second on SIUE. The junior owns a .373 shooting percentage (22-70) from beyond the arc. Against NIU, she set a new career high with six three-pointers. Last season, she ranked second on SIUE in total points (343) and assists (68).
SILVEY LINING: Silvey ranks third on the Cougars averaging 8.7 points per game. The sophomore has finished in double-figures five times, including a season-high 18 points against Middle Tennessee on Nov. 26. The guard is averaging 4.7 rebounds per contest and has collected five or more in seven games. She concluded last season with 173 points, 44 rebounds, 24 assists, and 20 steals.
AVA SCORER: Stoller ranks fourth on the Cougars averaging 8.4 points per game. She is averaging 4.7 rebounds per game, good for second on the squad and 13th in the OVC. Stoller joins SIUE this season from St. Petersburg HS where she led the Green Devil's' scoring efforts with 25.5 points and 4.4 rebounds as a senior.
LIV IN THE PAINT: Clayton is averaging 6.8 points 4.7 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game over her last six appearances. At SIU Carbondale, she commanded the Cougars on the boards for the first time this season with a season-high seven rebounds. Last season, the forward averaged 5.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per contest.
Stay connected with the Cougars all season long by following @SIUEWBB on X, @SIUEWBB on Instagram, and SIUE Women's Basketball on Facebook.
