Indiana Women's Basketball Hosts Last Nonconference Game Versus Southern Illinois

Indiana will take to the court again after its game with Wright State was canceled due to COVID-19 issues within the Raiders program. After four days without a game, the Hoosiers welcome the Southern Illinois Salukis to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall for Indiana's final nonconference game of the season.

IU Athletics

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Get out your ugly Christmas sweaters and head to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall for the Indiana women's basketball team's final nonconference game of the season against the Southern Illinois Salukis (5-4). The game starts at 1 p.m. ET.

The Hoosiers had a a four-day break after their game against Wright State was canceled Tuesday due to positive COVID-19 tests inside the Raiders' program.

The Salukis are fresh off a 66-51 win over Big Ten opponent Illinois on Sunday. The team is led by graduate student Abby Brockmeyer, who is averaging 16.6 points and 10.9 rebounds per game.

Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week Mackenzie Silvey is contributing an average 16 points per game and put up 19 points in the Salukis' victory over the Fighting Illini.

Indiana leads the series 12-3 and hasn't faced Southern Illinois since its victory over the Salukis in 2006. 

The Hoosiers are also coming off of a win of their own over Western Michigan on Sunday. Despite shooting 39 percent from the field, the Hoosiers grabbed their fourth-straight win.

Junior forward Mackenzie Holmes led the charge with 17 points followed by senior guard Grace Berger who had 16. Indiana outscored Western Michigan 38-22 points in the paint, an adjustment the Hoosiers made when their threes weren't falling.

"Our coaches' message to us is every single game, because of the people we have on our team, we really want to work inside out," Berger said. "I know a lot of teams work outside in, but we really want to focus on getting paint touches."

The Hoosiers outrebounded Western Michigan 47-29. Sophomore Kiandra Browne tied her career-high with 10 rebounds, seven of which were offensive rebounds.

"It's been nice to see how she's progressed as a player, but she works extremely hard," Holmes said.

Holmes tallied a career-high 19 boards, which is tied for 10th in a single game in program history.

But like every good coach, Indiana coach Teri Moren has said from the start of the season that she'd like to see improvement in rebounding, even if it's just to sharpen up a bit.

"We still feel like we have a ways to go in that particular area," Moren said. "It feels like in each game, there's always a couple series where we're disappointed that we don't get the box outs that we need."

The No. 8-ranked Hoosiers have almost finished their tough nonconference schedule before the Big Ten conference play becomes the present, and not the kind you get for Christmas.

How to watch Southern Illinois at Indiana

• Who: Southern Illinois Salukis (5-4) vs. Indiana Hoosiers (9-2)
• When: 1 p.m. ET, Thursday, Dec. 23
• Where: Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, Bloomington, Ind.
• TV: Big Ten Plus
• Radio: WHCC 105.1 FM

Related stories on Indiana women's basketball

• WRIGHT STATE CANCELS GAME VERSUS INDIANA: The sports world is starting to become affected by COVID-19 related cancellations once again. Wright State cancelled Tuesday's game versus Indiana due to positive COVID-19 cases among its tier one individuals. CLICK HERE. 
• INDIANA CLIMBS TO NO. 8 IN AP POLL: After two weeks at No. 10, the Indiana Hoosiers climb up to No. 8 in the AP Top 25 Poll after a pair of wins over Ohio Sate and more recently their 67-57 victory over Western Michigan on Sunday. CLICK HERE.
• HOOSIERS TAKE DOWN BRONCOS: Indiana shot just 39% from the field, but the Hoosiers' grit and spirit helped send No. 10-ranked Indiana to a 67-57 victory over Western Michigan. Indiana coach Teri Moren said she was disappointed in Indiana's defense, but was pleased with the effort of Kiandra Browne, the bright spot of the game. CLICK HERE.