EDWARDSVILLE, Ill- SIUE opens up Ohio Valley Conference play against Little Rock. The Cougars are coming off a 71-59 win against SIU Carbondale. 

LAST TIME OUT: Five players scored in double digits against SIU Carbondale, Macy Silvey (15), Ava Stoller (14), KK Rodrigues (12), Ava Gugliuzza (12) and Molly Sheehan (11).

THE RETURN: Rodriguez made her return to play Dec. 4 against Middle Tennessee after missing 21 games in the 2023-24 season. She came out hot opening the scoring for the Cougars. She totaled 7 points and six rebounds over 14 minutes. 

TEAM RANK: SIUE leads the OVC in Bench points per game (28.1), this is also good for 37th in the NCAA. The also lead the OVC in three-point attempts per game (21.8).

SILVEY LINING: Macy Silvey currently leads the team in three points made (18) averaging 2.0 per game. She went 5-9 from the three-point range against Carbondale.

HALLE BUCKETS: Halle Smith recorded her third 20-point game against Evansville Dec.8. Her 24 points was a new career high and, the first 20-points game for the Cougars this season. Smith is shooting .476 from the field (20-42).

SCORING LEADER: Brianna Wooldridge currently leads the team in scoring averaging 9.3 points a game. Wooldridge is shooting .469 from the field (30-64). 

SHEEHAN-DLES: Molly Sheehan has had 16 assists so far this season averaging 2.0 a game. 

REBOUND: Wooldridge averages 5.0 rebounds a game, Rodriguez follows with 5.0 a game over three games, Ava Stoller averages 4.6 a game. Silvey and Smith both average 3.4 rebounds per game. 

AT THE HELM: Samantha Quigley Smith is in her fourth season in charge of the Cougars and 12th season as a head coach. She owns a 29-72 record at SIUE and is 17-37 against conference opponents. All-time, Smith is 213-168. 

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.