EDWARDSVILLE, Ill- SIUE continues their 2024-25 season campaign on the road with DePaul. The Cougars have had five games this season, with their first win against Roosevelt University. 

FAMILIE TIES:

• Head Coach Sam Smith returns to her Alma mater in charge of the Cougars. Coach Smith played with the Blue Demons from 2006-11. She ranked 20th in school history with 1,273 points. Her 484 career assists rank third all-time for the Blue Demons.
• Coach Smith's older sister Allie Quigley, a four-time WNBA all start and a former Blue Demon will be inducted into DePaul Athletics Hall of Fame in 2025. 
• DePaul's Bradley Bruno acted as SIUE's director of basketball operations for two years, before becoming an assistant coach at his Alma mater DePaul. 

THE SERIES: The Cougars have faced off with DePaul in the 2010 and 2011 season, losing both times. 

BRI:Brianna Wooldridge currently leads the team in points (54) averaging 10.8 a game. She put up 12 points against UMSL, a season single-game high of 15 against Murray State,10 points against Loyola and 12 points against Roosevelt University. She is 10-15 when shooting from the line. 

SILVEY LINING: Macy Silvey currently leads the team in three points made (11) averaging 2.2 per game, recording a season single-game high at UCF (3).She also leads in free throw percentage going 4-4 on the season. 

SHE-CAN-HANDLE IT: Molly Sheehan has had 13 assists so far this season. Sheehan has had 21 points over five games.

TEAM RANK: SIUE leads the OVC in Bench points per game (29.0), this is also good for 38th in the NCAA. They are second in the OVC in defensive rebounds (27.4) good for 97th in the NCAA. 

REBOUND: Ava Gugliuzza leads the team in rebounds (11) averaging 5.5 pregame. Gugliuzza has taken charge in defensive rebounds for the Cougars. 

COLLEGE DEBUT: Meegan Fahy maked her debut as a starter against UMSL. Rory Conboy has also seen minutes against UMSL and Murray State. Olivia Loveland and Alexis Warren made their debut for the Cougars against Murray State. Carmen Martinez Lopez made her debut against Roosevelt contributing two points. 

TRANSFERS: Kendall George (UT Martin), Jaiden Bryant (Missouri St.).

FRESHMAN ADDITIONS: SIUE added five freshman in the off season, Meegan Fahy, Olivia Loveland, Carmen Martinez Lopez, Alexis Warren, and Rory Conboy. 

AT THE HELM: Samantha Quigley Smith is beginning her fourth season in charge of the Cougars and 12th season as a head coach. She owns a 28-69 record at SIUE and is 17-37 against conference opponents. All-time, Coach Smith is 212-164. 

PRESEASON HONORS: The preseason Ohio Valley Conference Poll predicted an eighth-place finish for the Cougars tied with UT Martin. Southern Indiana was selected as regular season champions with 20-first place votes. Graduate guard KK Rodriguez and junior Macy Silvey earned Preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference Honors. 

LAST SEASON: Silvey tied for sixth in the OVC averaging 1.9 three-pointers per game. She moved into 13th all-time at SIUE with 98 three-pointers and led the charge scoring double-figures in 14 games. Rodriguez was named OVC player of the week three times. Before leaving the game at SIU Carbondale with an injury, she ranked third in the NCAA in total points, third in free throw attempts, third in free throws made, ninth in scoring average, and seventh in three-point percentage.