Carbondale Reporter

The Southern Illinois University (SIU) women's basketball team is set to face Belmont on Saturday at 2 p.m. in their third Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) game of the season. The Salukis, with a current record of 2-9 overall and 0-2 in conference play, will host the Bruins at home in Carbondale, Illinois.

The game will be available for viewing on ESPN+ with commentary from Mike Trude and Saluki Hall of Famer Jamaal Tatum. Larry Larson will provide the radio broadcast on NewsRadio WJPF 107.9 FM.

Saturday's matchup is themed as "Seniors Day Out," inviting senior citizens to attend. Post-game activities include autograph signing by the team and a bounce house for fans in the Charles Helleny Pavilion.

Following a recent defeat against Murray State with a score of 93-69, SIU aims to secure their first MVC win this season. Kayla Cooper achieved a career-high of 19 points during this loss, while Gift Uchenna recorded her seventh double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Gift Uchenna has been recognized as the Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week twice this season, following her performance against Valpo where she scored 21 points and secured 21 rebounds—the second highest single-game rebound record in program history.

SIU is striving to avoid an 0-3 start in MVC play for the first time since the 2011-12 season amidst a five-game losing streak. They currently rank tenth in scoring defense within the MVC, allowing an average of 72.4 points per game while averaging only 59.4 points offensively.

In terms of individual performances, Gift Uchenna leads SIU with averages of 15.3 points, 12.5 rebounds, and two blocks per game—making her the sole player in the conference maintaining a double-double average.

Belmont enters Saturday's game with an overall record of six wins and seven losses, holding a split record in conference play after narrowly losing to Missouri State on Thursday. They boast one of the top defenses in MVC play by limiting opponents to an average of just over sixty-four points per game.

Historically, SIU has not secured any victories against Belmont across six previous encounters including two defeats last season.

For updates on SIU women's basketball news and events, fans can follow them on Twitter (@SIU_WBasketball), Instagram (@SIU_WBasketball), or Facebook (Facebook.com/SalukiAthletics). Additionally, supporters can download their mobile app from either App Store or Google Play Store for further engagement opportunities.