SIUE Cougars (5-24, 2-14 OVC)
at Eastern Illinois Panthers (13-16, 10-6 OVC)
Tuesday, February 27, 2024 | 5:00 PM CT
Charleston, Illinois | Groniger Arena
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 689-661 since the program began in 1974.
LAST TIME OUT: SIUE women's basketball opened the first half 52 percent (14-27) from the field but went 27 percent (9-33) overall in the second half as Tennessee State downed the Cougars, 75-65, on Saturday afternoon at the Gentry Center. TSU outscored the Cougars by a pair to take at 37-35 advantage entering the locker room. The Tigers opened the third quarter on an 8-0 run and maintained momentum the rest of the way to run past SIUE in the lone meeting between the two schools this season. The Cougars wrapped the contest 38 percent (23-60) from the field while going 9-23 from deep and 10-13 at the free throw line. Tennessee State shot 43 percent (28-65) and forced 26 turnovers away from SIUE, scoring 28 points off the Cougars' miscues. SIUE had three players finish in double-figures, led by 14 from Sofie Lowis. She also turned in five rebounds while dishing a pair of assists. Molly Sheehan collected 13 points and tied a career high in steals with five. Olivia Clayton also tied a career best mark in scoring with 11. Macy Silvey led SIUE on the glass with eight rebounds while Lezhauria Williams handed out five assists.
SERIES HISTORY: Tuesday marks the 37th meeting between the Cougars and Panthers dating back to 1980. EIU owns a 23-13 advantage in the all-time series and is 9-6 at home against SIUE. On Dec. 29 at First Community Arena, Eastern Illinois downed the Cougars, 80-74.
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.
DO IT FOR FREE: SIUE leads the Ohio Valley Conference and ranks 16th in the NCAA with a 78.0 free throw percentage. The Cougars stack up second in the OVC in free throws made (453) and attempts (545) at the stripe. Sheehan is 43-45 at the line (95.6) while Ava Stoller owns an 88.7 (63-71) free throw percentage.
SHOOTERS SHOOT: SIUE leads the OVC and ranks 34th in the NCAA with a 35.4 three-point percentage. The Cougars also lead the league in three-pointers made per game at 8.0, good for 41st in the nation. Lowis (65, 4th), Silvey (56, t-6th), and Molly Sheehan (53, 9th) rank in the top 10 of the league in three-pointers made. SIUE also ranks third in the OVC in offensive scoring at 68.6 points per contest.
SHARING IS CARING: SIUE's 14.6 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 80 assists, averaging 3.1 per contest, tied for 10th in the league.
LEAN ON LOWIS: Lowis leads the Cougars averaging 11.6 points per game, good for 15th in the OVC. On the road, she is averaging 12.2 points per outing. Over her last three games, she leads SIUE at 15.7 points per contest. The junior ranks fourth in the league in three-point percentage at 33.7. 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 11 games, including five or more on six occasions. Her 139 career three-pointers rank seventh in program history. Last season, Lowis stacked up 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 41.0. 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).
SILVEY LINING: Silvey ranks second on the Cougars averaging 9.6 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 leads SIUE with 142 rebounds and has collected five or more in 17 games. Silvey also leads SIUE in minutes player per game at 30.8. She concluded last season with 173 points, 44 rebounds, 24 assists, and 20 steals.
HALLE BUCKETS: Halle Smith averages 10.3 points and 5.3 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, averaging 1.2 per game, good for third in the league. 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.
