THUNDERBIRDS SET TO HOST IUPUI, WESTERN ILLINOIS
Southern Utah will play host to two teams competing to secure a spot in the Summit League Tournament this week as both IUPUI and Western Illinois currently carry a conference record of 6-6 and sit in a three-way tie for the the fourth spot in the league standings. The matchups represent two of the final three home games for SUU this year as the T-Birds will be back on the road next week before closing the season at home against Oral Roberts on Feb. 25. The Jaguars and Leathernecks have each won their last three games to put themselves in contention for a spot in the Summit League Tournament. Southern Utah will host a college basketball doubleheader this Saturday with the women starting things off against IUPUI at 5 p.m. (MT) followed by the men's game at 7:30. The Leathernecks will then pay a visit to the Centrum Arena on Monday at 7 p.m.

FOLLOW THE THUNDERBIRDS
Southern Utah University women's basketball fans can follow all home and select away games via LiveStats at www.SUUTBIRDS.com. All home games will be video streamed on www.SUUTBIRDS.com and broadcast on the radio at 91.1 FM and online at www.suu.edu/hss/comm/ksuu/webcast.html.

ABOUT THE IUPUI JAGUARS
IUPUI has won three straight with victories over Western Illinois, IPFW and Oakland to improve its league record to 6-6 and move into a tie for fourth in the Summit League standings. The Jaguars have two players who are averaging better than 10 points a game in Kerah Nelson (16.4) and Katie Comello (13.1). Nelson led IUPUI with 15 points against Southern Utah earlier this season to help the Jaguars claim a 56-49 home victory over the T-Birds, but SUU still holds a 15-14 edge in the all-time series. Head coach Austin Parkinson is in his second season at IUPUI, where after going 4-24 a year ago he has led his team to 11-13 overall mark so far this season to improve his career record to 15-37.

ABOUT THE WESTERN ILLINOIS LEATHERNECKS
After capturing back-to-back victories over IPFW and Oakland, the Leathernecks have moved into a three-way tie for the fourth spot in the Summit League standings with a record of 6-6. Currently averaging 66.8 points a game, the Western Illinois offense is one of the top scoring groups in the league. Senior guard Sadie Webb leads the team with 15.1 points a contest, followed by Valencia Kelly who is averaging 11.7 points an outing. Webb finished with 20 points against SUU earlier this season to lead four Leatherneck players in the double figures and help WIU take a 82-70 victory over the T-Birds. Head coach JD Gravina is in his first year at Western Illinois where he has led the Leathernecks to a record of 10-13 this season.
 
ANDREA JONES CAREER-HIGH 29 POINTS NOT ENOUGH AT NORTH DAKOTA STATE
Southern Utah wasn't able to keep up with North Dakota State on their home court Monday as the Bison had four players score in the double figures, led by Abby Plucker who finished with 20, to take a 74-56 win over the Thunderbirds. Sophomore guard Andrea Jones posted a career-high 29-points for SUU in the loss, recording the highest offensive output by any T-Bird this season. Jones was 11-22 from the field in the game with one three-pointer. 23 of her 29 points came in the second period as SUU tried to rally from a 17-point halftime deficit. The sophomore guard was the only Thunderbird to finish in the double-figures. SUU shot the ball 41 percent as a team, its highest mark since going 54 percent from the floor in a win over IPFW on Jan. 21. The Bison held a 37-30 advantage on the boards and knocked down 20 free throws to the Thunderbird's 13.

SUU SUFFERS SETBACK AT SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
Southern Utah dropped a 65-43 contest at Summit League leading South Dakota State Saturday to fall to 0-6 on the road in conference play. The Thunderbirds held the Jacks to just 38.3% shooting from the field in the game, but SDSU was able to pull away after scoring 27 points off turnovers. SDSU demonstrated a balanced scoring attack as 10 different players recorded a score for the Jackrabbits. Eide would lead the way with 11 points while Jennie Sunnarborg had 10. Andrea Jones put up 13 for the Thunderbirds while DJ Norman came off the bench for 11. The T-Birds were only able to get to the free throw line 14 times in the game where they converted nine attempts. The two sides were even on the boards as both teams finished with 32 rebounds.

UMKC TAKES 64-46 WIN OVER SUU
Southern Utah was unable to overcome a slow start in its matchup with UMKC on Monday as the Thunderbirds suffered a 64-46 defeat after scoring just 10 points in the opening half. Dayon Hall Jones led all scorers with 19 points in the game while Kim Nezianya chipped in another 10 for the 'Roos. Carli Moreland finished the night with 17 for SUU, nine of which came at the foul line, and Kimie Hawkins had 14. Southern Utah had a difficult night shooting the ball, going just 11-38 from the floor for a 28.9% field goal percentage. The Thunderbirds would do most of their scoring on free throws, converting on 24-of-33 attempts at the line. The SUU defense was able to hold the UMKC offense in check as the 'Roos shot just 32.8 percent in the contest.

SOUTHERN UTAH SUFFERS HOME LOSS TO SOUTH DAKOTA
Southern Utah had one of its lowest offensive outputs of the season Saturday as it fell to visiting South Dakota by a score of 68-40. The Coyotes held the Thunderbirds to just 27 percent shooting in the game while scoring 13 three-point field goals to come away with the win. The two teams traded baskets early on in the second until the Coyotes pushed their advantage to 20 on a jumper by Amber Hegge. Southern Utah made several attempts to narrow the deficit but South Dakota held a 34-22 scoring advantage in the second half to pull away for the 68-40 victory. The Thunderbirds held Hegge to just eight points in the game, well below her team best average of 18.3. Roche filled in with 16 points while going 4-7 from the three-point line. Moreland would be the only T-Bird to reach the double-figures after finishing with 10 points in the contest.

OAKLAND USES LATE RALLY TO TAKE WIN OVER SUU
Andrea Jones scored a career-high 22 points against Oakland for Southern Utah on Monday night, but the Grizzlies were able to come back in the game's final minutes to take a 64-60 win over the Thunderbirds. A 20-5 Oakland run down the stretch saw the Grizzlies level the score at 49, then go up seven at 57-50.  Southern Utah scored 10 points in the final minute-and-a-half to draw within four, but Oakland was able to convert from the free throw line to hold on for the 64-60 victory. Jones' 22 led all scorers while Moreland added another 18 along with 16 rebounds for SUU. Bethany Watterworth had 20 points for the Grizzlies, including 16 in the second half, and Amy Carlton came off the bench for a dozen.

T-BIRDS SNAP SKID WITH WIN OVER IPFW
Southern Utah snapped an eight-game losing-streak and earned its first Summit League victory of the year with an 80-68 win over visiting IPFW on Saturday night. The Thunderbirds leading scorer Hailey Mandelko left the game in the first half after a colliding with a defender, but her fellow starting guard DJ Norman picked up the slack with a career high 22 points to help SUU come away with the win. In addition to Norman's career high 22, SUU also got 14 from Moreland while Kimie Hawkins and Jones each chipped in 10. Freshman guard Haley Siebert led IPFW with 21 after going 4-5 from behind the arc.

SUU SUFFERS ANOTHER SETBACK ON THE ROAD
Sophomore forward Carli Moreland collected her sixth double-double of the season with 22 points and 12 rebounds at IUPUI on Monday, but it wouldn't be enough as Southern Utah took a 56-49 loss to the Jaguars. The Thunderbirds grabbed an early 7-2 lead in the game after Hailey Mandelko added a three to a pair of lay-ups by Moreland and Tayler Anderson. SUU held the advantage throughout the majority of the first half, but the Jaguars stayed right behind, never letting the margin get larger than five points. Following a pair of free throws by Moreland, IUPUI silenced the Thunderbird offense for a five-point run that helped the Jaguars take the lead at 44-40. IUPUI would then continue applying the pressure, outscoring SUU by a 10-3 count over the next six-minutes to extend its advantage to 11. Southern Utah made a final push in the final minutes, cutting the deficit to as little as five on a Mandelko three, but the Jaguars were able to hold on for the 56-49 victory.

THUNDERBIRD RALLY COMES UP JUST SHORT AT WESTERN ILLINOIS
Southern Utah mounted a strong rally in the second half of its road contest at Western Illinois Saturday, but the Thunderbirds would come up just short as the Leathernecks were able to hold on for the 82-70 victory. Freshman guard Hailey Mandelko scored 20 points for SUU, helping her team come within as little as three points late in the game, but four Leathernecks would finish in the double-figures to help WIU take the 12-point win. Mandelko had a big night for SUU as the freshman guard hit three shots from behind the arc on the way to her fourth 20-point game of the season. Carli Moreland also had an outstanding performance, turning in her fifth double-double this year with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Western Illinois would have four players finish in the double-figures as the Leathernecks got 14 from Salvatori to go along with 16 from Kelly, while Kontautaite put up 19 and Webb finished with 20.

HAILEY MANDELKO SCORES 21 IN LOSS TO SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
Southern Utah got 21 points from freshman point guard Hailey Mandelko against Summit League leading South Dakota State Monday night, but fell by a final count of 66-50 after allowing the Jacks to score 30 points off of turnovers. The Jackrabbits started the game with 11 straight points while the Thunderbirds turned the ball over in each of their first six possessions. SDSU was able to turn those miscues into easy baskets to go up 11-0 after just four minutes of play. Jennie Sunnarborg led SDSU with 22 points while Jill Young went 5-10 from the three point line and added a pair of free throws to finish with 17 in the contest. Andrea Jones came off the bench to score 11 for SUU.

SOUTHERN UTAH DROPS ROAD CONTEST AT ORAL ROBERTS
Oral Roberts turned in its best offensive performance of the season on its way to a 109-59 victory over Southern Utah. The Golden Eagles shot over 50% from the field and made 10 three-pointers to pull away from visiting SUU. Two-time All-Summit League Player of the Year Kevi Luper led all scorers with 31 to help her team to its highest offensive output of the season. ORU would also get 13 from Bigham while Jordan Pyle and Amber Carver each finished with 10. The Thunderbirds were led by Carli Moreland who set a new career mark with eight free throws on her way to 14 total points. The sophomore forward also recorded her third double double of the season as she pulled down 10 rebounds. Hailey Mandelko finished with 13 in the game, nine of which came on threes, while Torey Hill came off the bench for a career high eight points on 4-6 shooting.

SOUTHERN UTAH PULLS AWAY FROM UTAH VALLEY 80-65
Southern Utah had one of its most productive nights of offense so far this season on Wednesday, outscoring visiting in-state rival Utah Valley by a final count of 80-65. Freshman point guard Hailey Mandelko led all scorers with 23 points, finishing the game 4-8 from behind the arc and 7-7 at the free throw line, setting career marks in all three categories. Three other players would also score in the double-figures for SUU as Kimie Hawkins had 12, DJ Norman matched a career high with 10 and Carli Moreland set a new personal best with 17. Junior forward Tayler Anderson also helped to fill the box score with eight points, seven assists and eight rebounds. Junior center Erica Newbold paced Utah Valley with 14 points, six of which came from the free throw line.

T-BIRDS KNOCK OFF NEW MEXICO STATE IN FINAL SECONDS
Southern Utah captured its first win of the young season as freshman point guard Hailey Mandelko sank a jumper from the free throw line in the closing seconds of the Aggie Hotel Encanto Thanksgiving Classic finale to lift the Thunderbirds to a 58-57 victory over tournament host New Mexico State. Mandelko finished the game with 14 total points, and was one of four T-Birds to score in the double figures. Tayler Anderson and Brenna Gates both posted new career high in points for SUU, scoring 12 and 13 respectively, while junior forward Carli Moreland recorded her second consecutive double double with 10 points and 14 rebounds. The Aggies were led by Wampler who carried the load for NMSU with 20 points in the contest.

T-BIRDS RECEIVE FIRST COMMIT OF 2012 RECRUITING CLASS
Basia Klein of San Clemente, Calif. signed an NLI to play at Southern Utah and will join the Thunderbirds next fall. The 5'11” forward has had a remarkable high school career so far, averaging 15 points, eight rebounds, and five steals during her time at Santa Margarita. Her team recognized her efforts by giving her their Most Improved Player Award as a Varsity Starter in 2010. She has also been listed as a prospect on the ESPN Hoopgurlz listings for the past three seasons.

THUNDERBIRDS ADD TWO NEW ASSISTANTS TO COACHING STAFF
Southern Utah University has announced the hiring of assistant coaches Nicole Ryan and Caitlyn Sears who will join T-Birds women's basketball team. Nicole Ryan comes to Southern Utah from American University where after a successful playing career, spent a year as a student assistant. Ryan was a standout guard at American where she helped lead the Eagles to three consecutive NIT appearances and one regular season championship in the Patriot League.

Caitlyn Sears continues to be an important contributor to T-Bird basketball as she makes the transition from player to coach. This past season Sears concluded one of the most productive playing careers in the history of SUU basketball, becoming Southern Utah's fifth all-time leading scorer with 1,216 total points.

THUNDERBIRDS ACCEPT INVITATION TO JOIN BIG SKY CONFERENCE
Southern Utah University's athletic program will have a new home, beginning in the fall of this year. SUU received and accepted a formal invitation to join the conference on Nov. 1, 2010. The University of North Dakota also accepted an invitation from the Big Sky on the same date. Southern Utah will reap many benefits as members of the Big Sky, including reduced travel costs, ease of scheduling and, at least in the case of football, the opportunity to play for an automatic post-season bid. Last, but certainly not least, SUU's programs will be able to build on natural regional rivalries within the conference rather than with institutions with no geographic ties to Utah. The Thunderbirds currently compete in The Summit League in the majority of their sports, with the closest conference opponent located in Tulsa, Okla.