Carbondale Reporter

The Southern Illinois University (SIU) women's basketball team is preparing to host Evansville and Indiana State at the Banterra Center this weekend. The Salukis, with a current record of 3-16 overall and 1-9 in conference play, aim to break their five-game home losing streak.

Both games will be available for viewing on ESPN+. SIU's game against Evansville is scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m., while the matchup with Indiana State will take place on Sunday at noon. Larry Larson will provide radio commentary on NewsRadio WJPF 107.9 FM.

On Friday, SIU will celebrate "National Girls and Women in Sports Day" at the Banterra Center. Attendees can enjoy a bounce house at the Charles Helleny Pavilion an hour before the game begins. Several SIU women's programs will also participate by signing autographs after the game.

The Salukis have faced challenges this season, currently ranking 11th in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC). They share a similar conference record with Indiana State and Evansville. Despite these difficulties, standout performances from players like Gift Uchenna offer hope. Uchenna ranks highly in several categories within both the MVC and NCAA, including first in rebounding and offensive rebounding.

Kayla Cooper has also shown strong performance recently, leading scoring efforts for SIU last week with an average of 18.5 points per game. Other key players include Isabella Palmqvist, Tkiyah Nelson, Mia Gaines, and Alice Curman who continue to contribute significantly to the team's efforts.

Evansville enters Carbondale with a record of 5-16 overall and shares SIU's conference standing of 1-9. Since defeating SIU earlier this year, they have experienced four consecutive losses. Their top performer Maggie Hartwig averages 16.2 points per game.

Indiana State holds a record of 3-18 overall and similarly stands at 1-9 in conference play as they approach their match against SIU following six straight losses.

Historically, Southern Illinois has had more success against both teams but faces recent setbacks against Evansville.

Fans are encouraged to stay updated on Saluki athletics through various social media platforms or by downloading the "Salukis" Mobile App available on major app stores.