Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles (9-5, 4-0 OVC)
at SIUE Cougars (3-13, 0-3 OVC)
Thursday, January 11, 2024 | 5:00 PM CT
First Community Arena | Edwardsville, 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 687-650 since the program began in 1974.
PRMOTIONS: As apart of the Student Welcome Back presented by Schnucks, students will receive a free tote bag and pizza while supplies last.
LAST TIME OUT: SIUE women's basketball led Little Rock for the first six minutes of the contest, but the Trojans used a 9-0 run between the end of the first and beginning of the second and led the rest of the way to down the Cougars, 79-59, on Thursday night at Jack Stephens Center. Little Rock scored 25 points off 23 SIUE turnovers to take a 3-0 advantage in the all-time series. The Cougars shot a respectable 44.7 percent (21-47) while being held to 26.3 percent (5-19) from three-point territory. SIUE also went 12-17 at the free throw line and scored 30 of its 59 points in the paint. Little Rock shot 44.6 percent (25-56) from the floor while going 6-14 from deep and 23-33 at the charity stripe. SIUE outrebounded the Trojans 36-26, commanded by Halle Smith's eight. Ava Stoller and Brianna Wooldridge contributed five boards apiece while Olivia Clayton picked up four. For the contest, the Cougars would see three reach double-figure scoring, as Wooldridge (15), Molly Sheehan (15), and Smith (13) rounded out the SIUE offense.
SERIES HISTORY: Thursday marks the 53rd meeting between the Cougars and Screaming Eagles dating back to 1981. The all-time series is tied at 26 games apiece, as the two schools were conference-mates in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. SIUE has taken five of the last six meetings and owns a 15-10 record in Edwardsville.
DO IT FOR FREE: SIUE leads the Ohio Valley Conference and ranks 26th in the NCAA with a 77.0 free throw percentage. The Cougars also lead the OVC in free throws made (241) and rank second in attempts at the stripe (313). Stoller owns an 87.8 percentage (36-41) at the stripe to lead the Cougars. She has converted 21 consecutive attempts at the line but has not attempted a free throw in her last four appearances.
SHOOTERS SHOOT: SIUE ranks second in the OVC behind Western Illinois and 45th in the NCAA with a 35.6 three-point percentage. The Cougars also lead the league with 124 three-pointers made. Lowis (33, 4th), Sheehan (30, t-7th), and Macy Silvey (27, 9th) rank in the top 10 of the league in three-pointers made. The Cougars' 7.8 three-pointers made per game ranks second in the OVC and 58th in the country. SIUE also ranks second in the OVC in offensive scoring at 72.1 points per contest.
NOT IN OUR HOUSE: SIUE's 54 total blocks stacks up third in the OVC. Smith leads the Cougars, ranks third in the conference, and 80th in the NCAA with 21 blocked shots. Against Harris-Stowe, the Cougars recorded a season-best nine blocks. Clayton tallied a career-high six blocks vs. HSSU and ranks fifth in the league with 18.
ATTACK THE GLASS: The Cougars have collected 589 rebounds, good for second in the OVC. SIUE's 182 rebounds on the offensive glass rank third in the conference. Stoller leads the Cougars and is tied for 13th in the OVC averaging 4.9 rebounds per game. She has grabbed five or more on eight occasions.
SHARING IS CARING: SIUE's 14.9 assists per game ranks third in the OVC. Against Harris-Stowe, the Cougars dished out 28 assists, tying the single-game program record. Stoller leads SIUE with 52 assists averaging 3.3 per contest, tied for sixth in the league.
HALLE BUCKETS: Smith has finished in double-figures in each of her last two games, including a double-double vs. Western Illinois (Dec. 31) where she set career high marks in points (21) and rebounds (13). She also has commanded SIUE on the glass in each of her last two appearances. The junior forward joined SIUE from Southeast Missouri where she spent the first two seasons of her collegiate career.
LEAN ON LOWIS: Sofie Lowis has scored in double-figures in eight of her last 10 games. Her 11.4 points per game leads SIUE and ranks 17th in the OVC. The junior owns a 34.0 three-point percentage (33-97), good for fifth in the league. Against NIU, she set a new career high with six three-pointers made. The guard has converted three or more from three-point land in six games. Last season, she ranked second on SIUE in total points (343) and assists (68).
AVA SCORER: Stoller ranks second on the Cougars averaging 9.6 points per game, good for 22nd in the OVC. She also is averaging 4.9 rebounds per game to lead SIUE, tied for 13th in the league. The 5-6 freshman has collected five or more boards in nine contests while dishing five or more assists on eight occasions. Stoller joined the Cougars this season from St. Petersburg HS where she led the Green Devils' scoring efforts with 25.5 points and 4.4 rebounds as a senior.
SILVEY LINING: Silvey ranks third on the Cougars averaging 8.4 points per contest. The sophomore has finished in double-figures seven times, including a season-high 18 points against Middle Tennessee on Nov. 26. The guard also is averaging 4.3 rebounds per contest and has collected five or more in nine games. She concluded last season with 173 points, 44 rebounds, 24 assists, and 20 steals.
SHEEHAN-DLES: Sheehan is averaging 16.2 points over her last five contests to lead the squad. Against Western Illinois, the guard scored a career- high 21 points. The junior has dished out 16 assists over the last five games. Over her last four games, she has made five or more three-pointers on three occasions. At the free throw line this season, she is a perfect 13-13. Last season, Sheehan ranked third on SIUE in points (215), second in assists (68), and first in free throw percentage (.905).
Stay connected with the Cougars all season long by following @SIUEWBB on X, @SIUEWBB on Instagram, and SIUE Women's Basketball on Facebook.
