PANTHERS ON THE RADIO: For the ninth year in a row, KCNZ "The Sports Station" (1250 and 1650) is the home and away voice of the UNI women's basketball team. Sports Director Mark Simpson provides play-by-play while Megan Donahue provides color analysis at home games. All broadcasts can be listened to live at www.unipanthers.com.

SCOUTING THE PANTHERS: At 9-5 overall and 3-0 in the MVC, the Panthers are off to their best start in the conference since the 2000-01 season when they won the first six games in the league. UNI has won its last four games (longest streak of the season) and has been victorious in five of its last six games.

UNI has made 61 three-point baskets to its opponents 38 and has 76 blocks on the season to the oppositions 35. The Panthers also lead the league in scoring defense (holding opponents to 57.4 points/game) and rebound margin (+4.1). UNI is averaging 62.6 points/game.

SCOUTING THE SALUKIS: Southern Illinois is 2-11 overall, 0-4 in league play and 1-4 on its homecourt. The Salukis have lost their last five games and their opponents have outscored them by 14.2 points/game. Danette Jones and Daphney Desamours are having outstanding seasons, leading the team with 15.2 and 14.1 points/game, respectively. Desamours leads the team in rebounds (5.8), assists (41), and steals (21). India Bruster has 12 blocks on the season to lead SIU.

SIU is averaging 54.5 points/game while its opponents are putting up 68.8. The Salukis have struggled from the field this season, making only 257-of-688 shots (38.5 percent) and 54-of-166 (.32.5 percent) from behind the arc. They have been outrebounded 496-430, giving up an average of 5.1 rebounds a game.

SCOUTING THE ACES: Evansville enters this weekend 9-4 overall and 2-2 in the MVC after splitting a pair of games at SMS and Wichita State last weekend. Evansville hosts Bradley Thursday (Jan. 13) at Roberts Stadium. The Aces own a 6-1 record at home this season. In home games, UE is averaging just 14.1 turnovers per game while dishing out more assists (103) than turnovers (99).

Junior guard Megan Liffick leads the team in scoring at 14.0 points per game, reaching double-figures in three of UE's four MVC games while shooting 43.5 percent from the floor in league play.

The Aces have delivered a balanced attack with four players nearly scoring in double digits--Liffick (10.8), Jennifer Utterback (10.8), Laura Gaybrick (10.4), and Alissa Kirby (9.9). Liffick and Utterback both average 4.9 rebounds/game while Liffick and Kirby lead the defense with 2.3 steals/game and Kirby leads the Aces in assists (3.0).

SERIES HISTORY: Southern Illinois leads the series against UNI, 27-15. The Panthers have won the past four meetings, with the Salukis' last win coming on Feb. 21, 2002 (63-55) in Carbondale. DiCecco is 13-5 against SIU and owns a 6-3 record at SIU arena. Last year, the Panthers swept the Salukis, 90-55 (Jan. 28) in the West Gym and 70-68 (Feb. 29) in Carbondale.

UNI has a one game edge over Evansville, 11-10. Last year, the teams split, with the home team winning both contests. The Panthers were victorious 68-52 (Jan. 31) and the Aces triumphed 76-67 (Feb. 27). DiCecco is 11-8 overall against Evansville, but only 4-5 at Roberts Stadium.

COACHING STAFFS: Tony DiCecco is in his 10th season as the Panthers' head coach with a record of 136-131. UNI's all-time winningest women's basketball coach, DiCecco is credited with turning around the Panther program. In just his third season at UNI, he posted a winning record ending the programs streak of 14 consecutive losing seasons. He has guided UNI to its only post season appearances the WNIT in 2000-01 and 2002-03. Home crowd support has grown from an average of 267 fans before his arrival to more than 1,000 fans/game the past five seasons. The dean of the MVC coaches, DiCecco has guided the Panthers to eight appearances in the conference tournament and they have advanced as far as the semifinals four times. DiCecco is assisted by Brad Nelson, Kelley Jacobs and Allison Pohlman.

Dana Eikenberg is 2-11 overall in her first season as the head coach at Southern Illinois. She took over a program that finished 3-24 last year and had lost 20 or more games for six straight seasons. In Eikenberg's first year at UMCK in 2000-01, she inherited a team that posted a 2-25 record. Two years later, the team recorded a 14-14 mark, its first .500 season in 10 years, and finished tied for second place in the Mid-Continent Conference. Last year, she guided her team to a 15-14 overall record and another second-place finish in the MCC with an 11-5 mark. She is assisted by Jody Adams, Susan Koering and Rasheeda Love.

Tricia Cullop enters this weekend with a career overall record of 59-66.

Despite being in only her fifth year at UE, Cullop needs only one more victory to tie Linda Crick for second-place on the UE career victory chart. Cullop established a UE record for most victories by a first-year head coach in 2000-2001, and she became the fastest UE women's coach to reach 20 career wins in the following season. Cullop came to UE in April of 2000 after four years as the top assistant at Xavier. She is assisted by Greg Duke, John Wild and Jenna Hayes.

Points per game 62.6 54.6 70.9

Scoring Margin +5.3 -14.2 +5.3

Field Goals-Att. 309-745 257-668 317-821

Field Goal pct .415 .385 .386

3-point FG-Att. 61-186 54-166 85-278

3-point FG pct .328 .325 .306

3-pt FG made per game 4.4 4.2 6.5

Free throws Att. 198-256 142-211 203-287

Free throw pct .773 .673 .707

Rebounds per game 36.5 33.1 39.3

Rebounding Margin +4.1 -5.1 +1.5

Assists per game 13.9 9.8 13.8

Turnovers per game 17.9 19.8 17.8

Steals per game 7.5 5.3 13.2

Blocks per game 5.4 1.8 3.0

The UNI women's basketball team improved to 3-0 in the Missouri Valley Conference, defeating the Bradley Braves 74-66 in the conference game of the week (Jan. 8). Four players scored in double digits for the Panthers, with junior center Cassie Hager leading all players with 19 points.

Senior Alex Cook tallied her fourth double-double of the season, second consecutive, with 15 points and 12 rebounds. She also recorded two steals in her 26 minutes of play. Hager stretched her block total to 53 on the season, swatting four away against the Braves. Senior Emily Berry came through for the Panthers with two three-pointers on her way to posting 12 points. Amanda Faas tied a career best with 10 points and set a new career high with seven rebounds.

UNI shot 52 percent from the field while holding Bradley to 36.9 percent and no three-pointers. Leading 34-30 at the half, the Panthers pulled away in the second half, with their largest point margin being 13 near the 14 minute mark. Bradley rallied to a 58-55 lead with six minutes remaining in the game.

Faas then scored eight of her 10 points in the final five minutes, going 3-for-3 from the field. With 2:26 left in regulation and UNI trailing 64-63, Faas drove hard to the hoop, made the basket and was fouled. Faas made the free-throw to give UNI the 66-64 lead and the Panthers never trailed again in the game.

BIG ROAD WIN: UNI's 74-66 win at Robertson Fieldhouse in Peoria, Ill. on Jan. 8 was a big road win for the program. The last time the Panthers won in Peoria was a 71-57 victory on Feb. 19, 2000. Tony DiCecco is now 4-6 at Robertson Fieldhouse.

NO THREE'S FOR YOU: While UNI continues to add to its impressive streak of consecutive games with a made three-point basket (157 games), its defense against Bradley on Jan. 8 snapped another streak. It was the first time the Braves failed to make a three-point basket in 57 consecutive games.

IT ALL STARTS WITH DEFENSE: The Panthers' strength this season has been their defensive pressure. They are holding opponents to just 57.4 points/game and are the best defensive team in the Valley, holding league opponents to just 53.0 points. It is the best scoring defense since UNI joined Division I in 1982-83. Against Bradley (Jan. 8), the Braves came into the game averaging a league high 76.7 points/game but UNI's defense prevailed, holding BU to just 66 points. It was the third lowest point total scored by Bradley this season.

AND ONE: With 2:26 left in regulation and UNI trailing Bradley 64-63 (Jan. 8), junior guard Amanda Faas drove hard to the hoop, made the basket and was fouled. She then made the free throw to give UNI the 66-64 lead. The Panthers would never trail again in the game as Faas scored eight of her 10 points in the final five minutes, going 3-for-3 from the field, tying a career high and setting a career high with seven rebounds.

BRING ON THE CAMERAS: UNI is 2-0 this season in televised games. The Panthers defeated Southwest Missouri State 65-55 (Jan. 3) on Springfield Television and shut down Bradley (Jan. 8) 74-66 in the MVC-TV Game of the Week.

MVC PLAYER OF THE WEEK: On Jan. 10, Alex Cook was named the State Farm/Missouri Valley Player of the Week. Cook guided the Panthers to a win over pre-season favorite Southwest Missouri State and took the show on the road for a win over Bradley in the MVC TV game of the week. She averaged a double-double in the two games with 15.5 points, 13 rebounds, 3.5 assists, two steals and 1.5 blocks. Against SMS, she led all scorers with 16 points and 14 rebounds while dishing out four assists. At Bradley, she scored 15 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and tallied three assists and two steals.

BEST BLOCKER: Cassie Hager is determined to be the best shot-blocker in the history of the UNI women's basketball program. Hager swatted away 23 shots as a freshman, 51 as a sophomore and has 53 so far this season. She needs 22 more blocked shots to tie Tami Schebler (1981-84), who currently owns the record with 149 blocked shots.

WELCOME TO OUR HOUSE: The Panthers know how difficult it is to win games on the road, that is why they work extra hard to protect their home court. This season, UNI is 5-1 in the West Gym with wins over Illinois-Chicago, Northern Illinois, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Wichita State and Southwest Missouri State. The last time UNI started 5-1 on its homecourt was the 2000-01 season when the Panthers placed third in the Valley, qualified for the WNIT and finished with 18 wins.

I CAN'T SCORE 55: The Panthers went on a stretch from Dec. 21-Jan. 3 when they held five opponents to 55 points or less: Puerto Rico-Mayaguez 55, Toledo 43, Chicago State 46, Wichita State 38 and SMS 55.

BLOCK PARTY: Cassie Hager has thrown quite a number of block parties in her basketball career but few were as exciting as the one that took place against SMS on Jan. 3. With nine minutes left in the game, Hager went on a blocking spree, swatting away five shots in a 90-second span. She finished with six blocks on the night, tying her career record.

DOZEN IN A ROW: With UNI's 63-38 win over Wichita State on New Years Day, the Panthers now have extended their winning streak against the Shockers to 12 games. The streak started with an 83-80 overtime victory in the West Gym on Feb. 25, 2000. The Panthers will look to extend the streak to 13 consecutive wins when they travel to Wichita, Kansas on March 3.

CONFERENCE OPENER: The Panthers improved to 3-10 in Missouri Valley Conference openers thanks to their 63-38 win against Wichita State on Jan. 1, 2005. Since joining the Valley in the 1992-93 season, the Panthers have struggled in their opening league games.

GREAT EIGHT: Sophomore point guard Sarah Larsen came off the bench against Chicago State (Dec. 28) to contribute a new career high as she tallied eight points behind two-of-four shooting from the field and a perfect four-of-four from the line. She scored both of her baskets in a 30-second span early in the first half.

BACK IN THE SADDLE: UNI went to Cassie Hager early and often to start the Chicago State game (Dec. 28). Hager scored the first seven points for UNI in the first four minutes of the game. She finished with 11 points, six rebounds and four blocked shots. Hager bounced back from her last performance (Toledo, Dec. 22) when she failed to score a point or block a shot . That was the first time she did not score in double figures this season.

TOTAL TEAM EFFORT: Every player contributed in the 86-55 win over Puerto Rico-Mayaguez on Dec. 21. All 15 players dressed saw action in the game, with 13 players scoring two points or more. The UNI bench outscored PRM's bench 38-3.

NEW MARKS FOR LUND: True freshman Kelly Lund set career highs in nearly every statistical category against Puerto Rico-Mayaguez (Dec. 21). Lund set marks for points (five), rebounds (four), assists (one), steals (one), field goals made (one), field goals attempted (three), three-point field goals made (one), three-point field goals attempted (two), free throws made (two), and minutes (14).

WHERE'S THE KEEFE? Redshirt freshman Megan Keefe came off the bench to spark the Panthers to an 86-55 win over Puerto Rico-Mayaguez (Dec. 21). Keefe scored a career-high 15 points to lead the team while collecting four rebounds in 20 minutes of action.

TIS THE SEASON...FOR GOOD PLAY: Nine UNI players tied their season best or set season highs for points during the San Juan Shootout (Dec. 20-22). The nine players were Amanda Faas, Jackie Norton, Sarah Larsen, Megan Keefe, Chelsey Matthias, Alicia Irons, Tara King, Kelly Lund and Amy Helle.

I'll HAVE SECONDS: The Panthers clearly were a second half team in their three games of the San Juan Shootout (Dec. 20-22). Northwestern, Puerto Rico-Mayaguez and Toledo combined to outscore UNI 90-86 in the first half during the three games but the Panthers fought back to outscore their opponents 98-74 in the second period.

THE STREAK IS ALIVE: The Panthers have been a team that likes to shoot the three-point basket for quite some time. They now have hit at least one three-point basket in the last 156 games. The streak dates back to Nov. 27, 1999 against Butler.

NUMBER 1 ON THE BLOCK: Junior center Cassie Hager has proven she is the best shot blocker in the Missouri Valley Conference. Last year, she led the Valley by averaging 2.22 blocks per game, finishing with 51 on the season. This year, she is averaging 3.8 blocked shots in 14 games. She leads the Valley in blocked shots, is the top Midwest player and is seventh in the nation.

COUNTDOWN TO A GRAND ACCOMPLISHMENT: Senior power forward Alex Cook is approaching a very big milestone, looking to become the first UNI player to score 1,000 points and collect 1,000 rebounds, and just the fourth to do so in Missouri Valley Conference history. A player that consistently has picked up double-doubles while playing at UNI, Cook has 952 points and 882 rebounds. The other three with 1,000-plus rebounds and points:

Wanda Ford, Drake (1983-86) 2,636 / 1,815
Angela Buckner, WSU (2000-04) 1,382 / 1,297

Jen Kackza, WSU (1999-02) 1,557 / 1,016

AVENGING LOSSES: The 2004-05 UNI women's basketball team set out with the goal to avenge some losses this season. Last year, the Panthers fell to Wisconsin-Milwaukee 67-40, Illinois-Chicago 70-61 and Iowa State 75-48. This season, UNI defeated UW-Milwaukee 68-50, UIC 72-58 and led ISU by five at the half before dropping a hard-fought match 68-58.

DOUBLE THE FUN: Cassie Hager scored in double figures in each of the first nine games of the season. She is averaging 13.5 points and hit a career-high 22 points at Murray State on Nov. 23.

BERRY THE THREE: Senior point guard Emily Berry was hitting everything she threw at the hoop against Iowa (Dec. 5) in Iowa City. She was five-of-six from the field, with all six shots coming from behind the arc. Her only missed shot barely rolled off the rim.

A HIGH FIVE: Red-shirt freshman Megan Keefe (Clear Lake, Iowa) scored her first points as a Panther against Iowa (Dec. 5). Keefe was a perfect two-for-two from the field, including a shot from downtown. She finished with five points and three rebounds, both were career highs.

HANSEN DONE FOR SEASON: Junior center Kim Hansen will miss the entire 2004-05 season due to a knee injury she suffered last season. Hansen injured the knee against Southern Illinois on Jan. 28, 2004 when she fell over her teammate going for a rebound tearing her PCL and MCL in her right knee, sending her to the sideline for the remainder of the season. She had posterior cruciate ligament surgery on Dec. 28.

RISING STAR-TER: Amanda Faas has seen a significant rise in her playing time this season. Against Wyoming (Nov. 28), she played 18 minutes. Versus Wisconsin-Milwaukee (Dec. 2), she was on the court for 27 minutes and against the Hawkeyes (Dec. 5), she was rewarded with a chance to be in the starting rotation. She has started in every game since.

ROAD WARRIORS: The UNI women's basketball team traveled 2,828 miles on the bus over Thanksgiving break. After a road trip to Murray, Kentucky, a brief pit-stop for a game at home against Northern Illinois, and then another trip to Laramie, Wyoming for a Sunday game, the Panthers were happy to be back home against UW-Milwaukee. Their trip was extended an extra day when a snow storm closed the interstate on their way back from Wyoming.

INSIDE AND OUT, SHE CAN DO IT ALL: UNI's 6-7 junior center Cassie Hager doesn't appear to be a three-point threat, but against Northern Illinois (Nov. 26) she made her first three-pointer of her collegiate career. Left wide open beyond the arc, Hager fired a beautiful shot from the wing.

ROAD TO SUCCESS: Tony DiCecco knows how important it is for his team to be able to win on the road. Last year, UNI did not pick up its first road win (on a non-neutral site) until Feb. 5 at Wichita State. This year, the Panthers tallied their first road victory with a 60-56 win over Murray State in Murray, Kentucky in their first road game of the year.

CLUTCH: Sophomore guard Jessie Biggs has hit some big shots in her career at UNI but none might have been bigger than the two three-point baskets she made in the final three minutes of the Panthers' road win over Murray State (Nov. 23) . Trailing by two points, she drilled a three-pointer with 48 seconds left to give the Panthers the lead for good.

PANTHER DEBUT: Traci Ollendieck, Kelly Lund and Jackie Norton all played in their first game for UNI versus Illinois-Chicago. Ollendieck is a redshirt freshman from Cresco, Iowa, Norton is a true freshman from White Bear Lake, Minnesota and Lund is a freshman from New Brighton, Minnesota.

SEASON OPENERS: UNI now has won four of its last five season openers. The Panthers have a 19-18 record against opponents in the first game of the season.

OH MY, OLLENDIECK: Traci Ollendieck had 14 points, four rebounds and two blocks in her first game for UNI against Illinois-Chicago, coming off the bench to ignite the Panthers' offense. She went two-for-two from behind the arc. Ollendieck redshirted last season.

DOWN BUT NOT OUT: UNI trailed 8-1 in the opening minutes of its first game, only to rally to a 36-28 lead by halftime. It outscored Illinois-Chicago 36-30 in the second half and won its season and home opener.

SENSATIONAL STARTS: Tony DiCecco must have been giving great pre-game pep talks to his players because the Panthers kicked off both exhibition games with sensational starts. UNI outscored its opponents 75-42 in the first half of its two exhibition games.

PANTHERS PICKED SIXTH: The Missouri Valley Conference has picked the UNI women's basketball team to finish sixth heading into the 2004-05 season. The two-time defending State Farm MVC Tournament champ, Southwest Missouri State, has been tabbed as the number one team, collecting 379 points with 34 of 39 first-place votes.

PANTHERS' SIGN DMACC CENTER: Tony DiCecco has announced the signing of Michelle Smith to a National Letter of Intent. Smith is entering her sophomore season at Des Moines Area Community College in Boone, Iowa. She is a 6-3 center from Cresco, Iowa where she was an all-state and first team all-conference and all-district athlete at Crestwood High School.

"We are very excited to sign a quality player like Michelle to our program," DiCecco said. "She is a proven post player who has had much success at Des Moines Area Community College. She will bring a lot to our team and we are extremely happy with how Michelle will fit into our program."

Last year as a freshman at DMACC, Smith averaged 15 points and eight rebounds a game. She ranked second in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference in scoring, rebounding and blocks and was named first team all-Region.

ALL-CONFERENCE: Alex Cook was selected to the MVC preseason all-conference team. After suffering a season-ending hand injury on Valentine's Day last February, Cook is healthy and ready for her senior year. A 6-0 forward, Cook is a two-time first team all-MVC selection and a member of the All-Defensive Team. Last year in 21 starts, she averaged 13.9 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.

TONY D. SHOW: For the sixth consecutive year, UNI fans can hear what head coach Tony DiCecco has to say about the Panthers on the "Tony D. Show" on KCNZ. Famous Dave's in Cedar Falls is the host site for the fun and informative hour-long show that features interviews with coaches, players and people involved with the UNI women's basketball program. The show airs on Mondays or Sundays throughout the season at 6 p.m.

MVC Scoreboard Phone: The Missouri Valley Conference office maintains a scoreboard phone that may be reach at (314)-997-9877. Scores and highlights for all sports are updated each evening while in season.

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