SIUE Women Nab Win; EIU FCA Hoops Night This Saturday

MARTIN, Tenn. – Three SIUE players finished with double digits in scoring and rebounding as SIUE women's basketball picked up a big road victory 66-63 at UT Martin.
 
Raven Berry, Michaela Herrod, and Tierny Austin all finished with double-doubles as SIUE improved to 12-11 overall and 6-5 in the Ohio Valley Conference. After an overtime win at the Vadalabene Center earlier this season, the Cougars secured the regular season sweep with the victory at the Elam Center.
 
Berry led the Cougars in points and rebounds with 18 and 11, respectively. Herrod nearly matched her with a season-high 16 points to add to her 10 rebounds. Austin picked up her second double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Teutopolis graduate Jessie Wendt played but did not score and had one assist for SIUE.

SIUE Men

MARTIN, Tenn. – UT Martin connected on a season-high 57.8 percent of its shots and turned 15 SIUE turnovers into 19 points Saturday en route to a 77-68 win over SIUE in Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball at the Elam Center.

"We just didn't come out with the intensity, either offensively or defensively, and the focus and toughness that we needed to garner a win today," SIUE Head Coach Lennox Forrester said.

The Cougars dropped to 8-13 overall and 4-7 in the OVC with the loss. UT Martin swept the season series between the two schools and improved to 7-17 overall and 4-8 in the OVC.

"You cannot go on the road in this conference or any conference in the country and not compete," Forrester added. "You don't have your fans or your family on the road, you have to bring your own energy and we didn't do that today."

SIUE got off to a good start and led 11-7 on a layup by Tim Johnson with 12:50 left in the first half, but UT Martin got a pair of three-pointers from Mike Liabo on back-to-back possessions to go ahead 13-11. The Cougars tied the game twice more in the first half, but never led again in the game.

EIU Men

The 13th annual EIU FCA HOOPS NIGHT will be held at the Lantz Arena in Charleston on Saturday, February 16.  The event is for Middle and High School students, athletes and area church youth groups. Typically about 250 people attend.  It is important to contact Tom Woodall  (twoodall@eiu.edu or 217-549-6671) by February 12th, indicating the group and the number of people who plan to attend.  Food and other planning decisions need to be made in advance.

At 4 PM, those attending will park cars in the parking area just west of the Football Stadium and then walk to the north doors of the Lantz Arena.  Inside the sponsors, leaders or coaches of the groups, will guide their group through the north Pool Lounge, were they will pick up pizza/pop and buy the $2.00 ticket that allows them to be part of all the activities, including the 6 PM men’s basketball game between the EIU Panthers and Murray State (Kentucky).

After eating, there will be games and a program at the Indoor Track that includes music as well as athletes and coaches sharing their faith.  Door prizes will be distributed just prior to the 6 PM game

Mike Beresford, the former EIU track star and currently a school administrator in the Indianapolis School System, will return to supply, as he has done for many years, some great musical fun.

EIU Athletic Director, Barbara Burke will welcome the group and several speakers will share their faith.  Laura Magnussonfrom the EIU Women’s Track team will be followed by three men who are well know to fans of EIU Athletics.  

Roy Wittke is currently the Director of Football Operations and is well known as the man who coached Tony Romo (Dallas Cowboys).  Troy Collier (fill in what you so desire) played on some of the outstanding EIU basketball teams in the early 1990’s.  He is now the Team Chaplin for the University of Illinois Basketball team.

Henry Domercant graduated from EIU ten years ago and has played professional basketball overseas ever since..most recently in Russia.  His jersey (Number 44) will be retired at half-time of the basketball game.  He is the all time leading scorer for EIU and the Ohio Valley Conference, averaging more than 26 points per game for his final two years of college.

The current Panthers are contending for a spot in the upcoming OVC Tournament and the Murray State game will be crucial in their quest for post season play.