SIUE COUGARS(0-0, 0-0 OVC)
vs. MISSOURI BAPTIST (0-0, 0-0 OVC)
NOVEMBER 3, 2025 | 7 PM
Edwardsville, Ill.  || First Community Arena

WHERE ARE WE: SIUE women's basketball will start their season off hosting Missouri Baptist at First Community Arena. 

SERIES: This will be the second time the Cougars and Spartans have met. The teams las met in the 2008 season when SIUE won 104-68 on their home court. 

AT THE HELM: Samantha Quigley Smith is beginning her fourth season in charge of the Cougars and 13th season as a head coach. She owns a 33-89 record at SIUE and is 21-53 against conference opponents. All-time, Coach Smith is 244-250. 

PRESEASON HONORS: The preseason Ohio Valley Conference Poll predicted a 10th place finish for the Cougars tied with Morehead State. Lindenwood was selected as regular season champions with six-first place votes. Seniors Macy Silvey and Jaiden Bryant were named to the OVC's players to watch list. 

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Silvey is playing her fourth season at SIUE after finishing third in three-point field goals in 2024-25. She averaged 2.3 per game. She appeared in all 29 games for the Cougars shooting 35 percent from the field and 36 percent from three-point range. Bryant will be playing her second season with SIUE after transferring from Missouri State. Last season she started 26 games for the team, being the rebounding leader for eight games. She also was second on the team in rebounds averaging 4.1 per game.

A NEW LOOK: The 2025 roster features seven new additions: four freshman (Kiyoko Proctor, Lauren Miller, Sy'Rae Stemmons and Kaitlin Cassidy) alongside one sophomore (Adriana Blazquez), and two graduate students (Adubukola Akomolafe and Syanne Mohammed).

TRANSFER TALK: Samantha Quigley-Smith adds three transfers to her roster. Blazquez joins the Cougars after one season at Murray State where she appeared in 18 games as a freshman (2024-25). Mohammed previously was at Goshen College from 2021-25. There she appeared in 115 games averaging 9.6 points per game. Akomolafe comes from Virginia Commonwealth from 2021-25, during her junior year she was shooting 47 percent from the field. 

COACHING STAFF: Smith adds one new member to her coaching staff. Assistant coach Tierney Lockett. Prior to SIUE Lockett played for Lewis from 2015-19, after her playing career she became a graduate assistant for Lewis. During the 2023 season she was promoted to assistant coach, and helped guide the team to a 23-9 record and a GLVC regular season championship title. 

OPENING ACT: SIUE owns an all-time record of 25-20in season openers dating back ot 1979. The Cougars are 1-4 in their last five opening acts.