EDWARDSVIILLE, Ill. -SIUE women's basketball welcomes USI to First Community Arena January 23. Tip off is set for 5:00pm. The Cougars are coming off a close loss (72-65) against UT Martin. 

• They had their first conference win against TSU (76-70) Jan.16
• The game went into overtime after Jaiden Bryant hit a shot in the last 23 seconds of the fourth quarter.
• Bryant also had seven rebounds against TSU. 
• The win against TSU marked the first road win for the Cougars since the 2022-23 season. 
• When it comes to overtime wins this is the first since the 2016-17 season, when the Cougars beat UTM 70-68.
• KK Rodriguez had her third 20-point game of the season, with 21 points against TSU. 
• She also recorded her first double-double of the season with 21 points and 12 rebounds. 
• Rodriuez had two back-to-back games with 10+ rebounds, with 12 at TSU and 10 at UTM
• Macy Silvey had 21-points two games in a row at TSU and UTM. 
• Silvey leads the team in three-point FG attempts at 5.3 per game. Also good for fourth in the OVC.
• She also ranks sixth in the OVC for 3-pointers made at 1.88 per game. 
• Brianna Wooldridge is seventh in the OVC for free throw attempts at 77. 
• She has a free throw percentage of .649.
• Wooldridge also ranks seventh in the OVC for offensive rebounds a 2.12 per game. 
• Bryant follows at eighth in the OVC at 2.00 per game. 
• Wooldridge still leads the Cougars in points averaging 8.5 per game. 
• The Cougars still lead the OVC in bench points per game at 26.2. This is also good for 34th in the NCAA. 
• They also rank first in the OVC three-point attempts at 22.2. 
• The cougars take second in the OVC in rebounds per game (38.18), and defensive rebounds (26.2)

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 30-79 record at SIUE and is 18-44 against conference opponents. All-time, Smith is 214-175. 
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.