SIUE Cougars (5-22, 2-12 OVC)
at Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (13-12, 8-6 OVC)
Thursday, February 22, 2024 | 5:30 PM CT
Cookeville, Tennessee | Hooper Eblen Center
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 689-659 since the program began in 1974.
SERIES HISTORY: Thursday marks the 22nd meeting between the Cougars and Golden Eagles dating back to 2010. TTU owns a 13-8 advantage in the series and have taken eight consecutive games against SIUE. Tennessee Tech is 6-2 all-time at home against the Cougars.
ROAD WARRIORS: SIUE is currently in the midst of playing six of its final eight scheduled games on the road, with four consecutive away games to conclude the season. The Cougars will also play its next three games over the course of six days.
LAST TIME OUT: SIUE women's basketball trailed by as many as 20 points in the third quarter and reduced its deficit to nine points in the fourth, but Southeast Missouri State held onto its lead the entire way to down the Cougars, 67-57, on Saturday night at First Community Arena. The Cougars took their lone lead of the contest at 4-3 before SEMO used a 7-0 run to lead the rest of the way. The Redhawks extended their advantage to 13 entering the locker room. SEMO pulled ahead to 20 with 7:12 to go in the third, its largest lead of the contest, and concluded the third up 18 at 52-34. SIUE staged two separate 9-0 runs in the final quarter, reducing their deficit to 10 each time. However, SEMO maintained its lead, securing its third consecutive victory against the Cougars since last season. The Cougars shot 35 percent (18-51) overall while going 6-23 from three-point territory and 15-19 from the free throw line. Southeast Missouri State shot 36 percent (24-66) from the floor and went 12-19 at the stripe. The Redhawks also edged SIUE on the glass, 46-32. Sofie Lowis led SIUE's scoring with 13 points while turning in six rebounds and four assists.
DO IT FOR FREE: SIUE leads the Ohio Valley Conference and ranks 16th in the NCAA with a 77.9 free throw percentage. The Cougars also lead the OVC in free throws made (403) while stacking up second in attempts (517) at the stripe. Sheehan is 38-39 at the line (97.4) while Ava Stoller owns an 88.7 (63-71) free throw percentage.
SHOOTERS SHOOT: SIUE ranks second in the OVC and 55th in the NCAA with a 34.7 three-point percentage. The Cougars also lead the league in three-pointers made per game at 7.8, good for 51st in the nation. Lowis (58, 5th), Macy Silvey (53, 7th), and Molly Sheehan (47, 10th) rank in the top 10 of the league in three-pointers made. SIUE also ranks third in the OVC in offensive scoring at 68.4 points per contest.
SHARING IS CARING: SIUE's 14.4 assists per game rank second in the OVC. Against Harris-Stowe, the Cougars dished out 28 assists, tying the single-game program record. Stoller leads SIUE with 74 assists, averaging 3.1 per contest, tied for 11th in the league.
LEAN ON LOWIS: Lowis leads the Cougars averaging 11.1 points per game, good for 18th in the OVC. The junior ranks fifth in the league in three-point percentage at 33.1. 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 10 games, including five or more on five occasions. Last season, she ranked second on SIUE in total points (343) and assists (68).
SHEEHAN-DLES: Sheehan is averaging 10.7 points per contest against OVC opponents. This season, she owns a three-point percentage of 39.8. Against Western Illinois, the guard scored a career-high 21 points. Last season, she ranked third on SIUE in points (215), second in assists (68), and first in free throw percentage (.905).
AVA SCORER: Stoller is averaging 13.0 points per game over her last four outings. The freshman also leads SIUE in rebounding this season at 5.0 per game. She ranks third on SIUE averaging 9.6 points per game. Stoller joined SIUE 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 second on the Cougars averaging 9.9 points per contest. The sophomore has finished in double-figures 14 times, including a career-high 24 points at Lindenwood on Jan. 18. The guard also leads SIUE with 133 rebounds and has collected five or more in 16 games. She concluded last season with 173 points, 44 rebounds, 24 assists, and 20 steals.
HALLE BUCKETS: Halle Smith is averaging 9.9 points and 5.5 rebounds against OVC opponents, including a double-double vs. Western Illinois (Dec. 31) where she set career high marks in points (21) and rebounds (13). She also leads SIUE with 36 blocks, good for third in the league and 74th in the NCAA. The junior forward joined SIUE from Southeast Missouri where she spent the first two seasons of her collegiate career.
Stay connected with the Cougars all season long by following @SIUEWBB on X, @SIUEWBB on Instagram, and SIUE Women's Basketball on Facebook.
