Carbondale Reporter

Southern Illinois University (SIU) women's basketball team is set to play against Murray State on Thursday, January 2, at 6 p.m. This game marks the team's first home game in the Missouri Valley Conference for the year 2025. Fans can catch the live broadcast on ESPN+ with commentary by Dominic Hoscher and Saluki Hall of Famer Jamaal Tatum. Larry Larson will provide radio coverage on NewsRadio WJPF 107.9 FM.

The Salukis have faced a challenging start to their conference play, having lost their opening match to Valparaiso with a score of 69-51. SIU's performance from beyond the arc was significantly lower than their opponents, hitting just 7% compared to Valpo's 45%. The team is currently on a four-game losing streak and aims to improve its record in this upcoming match.

Gift Uchenna has been recognized as the Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week for her outstanding performance against Valparaiso, where she scored 21 points and grabbed an impressive 21 rebounds. She leads SIU with averages of 15.6 points, 12.6 rebounds, and contributes defensively with blocks and steals.

Murray State enters this matchup with momentum, boasting a record of seven wins in ten games overall and one win in conference play after defeating Illinois State. The Racers are known for their high-scoring offense, averaging over 90 points per game.

Historically, SIU holds a strong record against Murray State with 41 wins out of their past encounters but has lost the last three meetings between these teams.