SEMO Redhawks (7-17, 4-9 OVC)
at SIUE Cougars (5-21, 2-11 OVC)
Saturday, February 17, 2024 | 1:00 PM CT
First Community Arena | Edwardsville, Illinois
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 689-658 since the program began in 1974.
PROMOTIONS: Saturday marks the final "618 Days presented by Metro East Mega Storage" games where fans can purchase tickets for $6.18. To redeem this promotion, purchase your tickets online here. During the checkout process, enter the promo code "618game" to receive the discount. Tickets must be purchased in advance to receive the discount.
LAST TIME OUT: Ava Stoller's floating jumper with 4.7 seconds remaining lifted the Cougars past Lindenwood, 69-67, on Thursday night at First Community Arena. The Cougars trailed by 11 with under four minutes remaining in the second quarter before a 12-4 run reduced the Lions' lead to just three at 31-28 entering halftime. SIUE would go up by seven points at the conclusion of the third and enjoy its largest lead of the game at 10 with 8:46 remaining in the final quarter of action. Lindenwood countered with a 17-7 run to tie the game at 67 with 18 seconds remaining, allowing the Cougars to take a final shot with the shot clock turned off. With 4.7 seconds to go, Stoller attacked the rim and banked a jumper in the paint to put the Cougars up two at 69-67. Lindenwood took a 30 second timeout to draw up a last effort play but fell short as SIUE secured a 3-1 advantage in the all-time series. The Cougars concluded the contest 45 percent (24-53) from the floor and 9-22 from long range. Macy Silvey (17), Stoller (13), and Ava Gugliuzza (10) finished the contest in double-figures. Silvey also led SIUE with eight rebounds.
SERIES HISTORY: Saturday marks the 40th meeting between the Cougars and Redhawks dating back to 1979. SEMO owns a 30-19 advantage in the series and are 12-11 against the Cougars at First Community Arena. Earlier this season on Jan. 20, the Redhawks downed SIUE, 86-72.
SENIOR DAY: SIUE will celebrate a pair of seniors before Saturday's contest vs. the Redhawks: Olivia Clayton and KK Rodriguez. The duo transferred to SIUE prior to the 2022-23 season from Tulsa.
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 14th in the NCAA with a 77.9 free throw percentage. The Cougars also lead the OVC in free throws made (388) while stacking up second in attempts (498) at the stripe. Sheehan is 34-35 at the line (97.1) while Ava Stoller owns an 88.2 (60-68) free throw percentage.
SHOOTERS SHOOT: SIUE leads the OVC and ranks 48th in the NCAA with a 35.0 three-point percentage. The Cougars also lead the league in three-pointers made per game at 7.8, good for 48th in the nation. Sofie Lowis (56, 4th), Silvey (52, 5th), and Molly Sheehan (46, 10th) rank in the top 10 of the league in three-pointers made. SIUE also ranks third in the OVC in offensive scoring at 68.8 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 10th in the league.
LEAN ON LOWIS: Lowis leads the Cougars averaging 11.1 points per game, good for 16th in the OVC. The junior ranks sixth in the league in three-point percentage at 33.3. 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 10.8 points per contest against OVC opponents. This season, she owns a three-point percentage of 40.0. 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).
AVA SCORER: Stoller is averaging 14.3 points per game over her last three outings. The freshman also leads SIUE in rebounding this season at 5.2 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 10.2 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 averages 4.9 rebounds per contest and has collected five or more in 15 games. She concluded last season with 173 points, 44 rebounds, 24 assists, and 20 steals.
HALLE BUCKETS: Smith is averaging 10.1 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 66th 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.
