SIUE Cougars (3-15, 0-5 OVC)
at Lindenwood Lions (2-12, 0-4 OVC)
Thursday, Jan. 17, 2024 | 5:00 PM CT
Robert F. Hyland Arena | St. Charles, Missouri
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 687-652 since the program began in 1974.
LAST TIME OUT: Ava Stoller recorded her first collegiate double-double, but SIUE was handed its fifth consecutive loss after Morehead State outscored the Cougars 26-16 in the third period on Saturday, Jan. 13 inside First Community Arena. SIUE finished the contest 36 percent (21-58) from the floor while going 6-18 from three-point territory and 16-22 at the stripe. Morehead State, who finished the contest 35 percent (24-68) overall, scored 26 points off 24 SIUE turnovers. MSU outrebounded the Cougars 43-42 and 16-11 on the offensive glass. Three SIUE players finished in double-figures, led by Molly Sheehan's 18 points. The junior also led SIUE with eight assists. Stoller, the third Cougar to record a double-double this season, scored 11 points while leading SIUE with a season-high 12 rebounds. Olivia Clayton rounded out the Cougars' offense with 11 points. Sofie Lowis tied a season best mark with six rebounds while Halle Smith added five.
SERIES HISTORY: Thursday marks the third meeting between the Cougars and Lions dating back to the 2022-23 season. SIUE took both contests against Lindenwood, including a 66-50 victory inside Robert F. Hyland Arena on Feb. 9, 2023, where forward Ajulu Thatha set the program's single-game rebounding record with 25.
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK: Stoller was named the Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Week following her performance against Southern Indiana and Morehead State. The guard began her week with 12 points vs. Southern Indiana while leading SIUE with seven rebounds and four assists. The St. Petersburg, Florida native followed up with her first collegiate double-double, scoring 11 points while collecting a season-high 12 rebounds on Saturday vs. Morehead State.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE TROUBLE: Stoller's double-double on Saturday, Jan. 13 vs. Morehead State marked SIUE's third game this season with a player recording the feat. Smith finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds on Dec. 31 vs. Western Illinois while KK Rodriguez tallied 33 points and 14 boards against Evansville on Nov. 12.
DO IT FOR FREE: SIUE ranks second in the OVC and 49th in the NCAA with a 75.8 free throw percentage. The Cougars also lead the OVC in free throws made (275) and attempts at the stripe (363). Stoller leads SIUE with an 86.5 percentage (45-52) at the stripe, good for third in the league and 46th in the nation.
SHOOTERS SHOOT: SIUE ranks second in the OVC behind Western Illinois and 43rd in the NCAA with a 35.5 three-point percentage. The Cougars also lead the league with 138 three-pointers made. Sheehan (36, 4th), Lowis (34, 5th), and Macy Silvey (31, 9th) rank in the top 10 of the league in three-pointers made. The Cougars' 7.7 three-pointers made per game stacks up second in the OVC and 58th in the country. SIUE also ranks second in the OVC in offensive scoring at 71.2 points per contest.
NOT IN OUR HOUSE: SIUE's 59 total blocks stacks up third in the OVC. Smith and Clayton lead the Cougars and are tied for fourth in the league averaging 1.2 blocks per game. Against Harris-Stowe, the Cougars recorded a season-best nine blocks.
ATTACK THE GLASS: The Cougars have collected 664 rebounds, good for third in the OVC. SIUE's 202 rebounds on the offensive glass stack up third in the conference. Stoller leads the Cougars and ranks ninth in the OVC averaging 5.4 rebounds per game. She has grabbed five or more on 10 occasions.
SHARING IS: Cougars dished out 28 assists, tying the single-game program record. Stoller leads SIUE with 57 assists, averaging 3.2 per contest, good for seventh in the league.
SHEEHAN-DLES: Sheehan is averaging 16.7 points over her last six contests to lead SIUE. Against Western Illinois, the guard scored a career- high 21 points. She also leads the OVC with a 45.6 three-point percentage, good for 13th in the NCAA. The junior has dished out 24 assists over the last six games. She has made four or more three-pointers in four of her last seven outings. Last season, the guard ranked third on SIUE in points (215), second in assists (68), and first in free throw percentage (.905).
HALLE BUCKETS: Smith is averaging 11.8 points and 7.5 rebounds over her last four contests, 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 two of her last four appearances. The junior forward joined SIUE from Southeast Missouri where she spent the first two seasons of her collegiate career.
LEAN ON LOWIS: Lowis has scored in double-figures in eight of her last 12 games. Her 10.8 points per game leads SIUE and is tied for 18th in the OVC. The junior owns a 32.4 three-point percentage (34-105). 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).
SILVEY LINING: Silvey ranks fourth on the Cougars averaging 8.5 points per contest. The sophomore has finished in double-figures eight times, including a season-high 18 points against Middle Tennessee on Nov. 26. The guard also is averaging 4.2 rebounds per contest and has collected five or more in 10 games. She concluded last season with 173 points, 44 rebounds, 24 assists, and 20 steals.
Stay connected with the Cougars all season long by following @SIUEWBB on X, @SIUEWBB on Instagram, and SIUE Women's Basketball on Facebook.
