Carbondale Reporter

The Southern Illinois University (SIU) women's basketball team is set to begin its Missouri Valley Conference play on Sunday against Valparaiso. The game will take place at 1 p.m. and can be viewed on ESPN+, with Brian Jennings and Renee Turpa providing commentary. Larry Larson will cover the radio broadcast on NewsRadio WJPF 107.9 FM.

Currently, SIU holds a record of 2-7, having lost their last three games while averaging 56.7 points per game during this period. Their most recent match resulted in a 75-57 defeat against UAB on December 22, where they were outscored significantly in the second half.

In the previous season, SIU recorded a conference play score of 6-14, with their last above .500 finish occurring in the regular season championship of 2021-22 when they went 15-3. Presently, they rank ninth in scoring defense within the conference and are positioned twelfth offensively.

Leading the Salukis is Gift Uchenna, who averages a team-high of 15 points and 11.7 rebounds per game along with other notable statistics. Se'Quoia Allmond has recently made her first start this season and scored a career-high of 17 points against UAB.

Valparaiso enters Sunday's game with a record of 4-7 and has experienced two consecutive losses recently. Leah Earnest leads Valpo in scoring with an average of 17 points per game.

Historically, Southern Illinois has maintained an advantage over Valparaiso with a series record of nine wins to four losses, including three consecutive victories against them.

For updates on the Salukis' progress throughout the season, fans can follow their social media accounts or download their mobile app for more information.