SLIAC Weekly - Jan. 31

Blackburn College

The Blackburn men's basketball team finds themselves in the thick of the postseason race after defeating Fontbonne in a key game last week. The Beavers won 82-78 at home with Reed Rusten leading the way with 26 points while Malcolm Scott added 8 points and 15 rebounds. Blackburn is now 6-6 in conference play, tied for 6th place but just one game behind in the loss column from third place. 

Eureka College

The Eureka women's basketball team is looking to close out a perfect January when they are on the road against Webster tonight. Eureka has won all seven games this month and is 10-1 in conference play, tying them for first place in the conference standings.

Fontbonne University

The Fontbonne women's basketball team faces a big week in terms of postseason play. The Griffins are 5-6 in the SLIAC, tied for 5th place. This week they face Greenville, who is in first place in the standings, and Westminster, who is one game ahead of them in the final playoff spot. 

Greenville University

The Greenville women's basketball has kept pace for atop the SLIAC standings, with a three-game winning streak as they enter this week's contests. The Panthers are 10-1 in SLIAC play and 15-4 overall. They will face Fontbonne at home on Wednesday and head to MacMurray on Saturday.

Iowa Wesleyan University

The Iowa Wesleyan men's basketball team will be looking to play spoiler to a couple of conference teams looking to secure playoff bids. The Tigers host Blackburn and Webster this week with both of their opponents trying to secure a spot in the four-team conference tournament. This marks the final year that Iowa Wesleyan is not eligible for the conference tournament due to their transition from the NAIA.

MacMurray College

One of the hottest teams in the league right now is the MacMurray men's basketball team. The Highlanders have won three straight with each win coming against an opponent higher than them in the standings. At 5-7 in conference play, MacMurray will need to continue their hot streak if they want to get into the postseason. They face Spalding and Greenville this week.

Principia College

Principia College has announced the return of women's basketball as a varsity sport. The Panthers will field a team beginning with next season, 2018-19, and then return to St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play the following year. Principia hired Dory Smith last summer to head up the re-birth of the women's basketball program and has been coaching the junior varsity team this year. She will remain as the varsity head coach.

Spalding University

The Spalding men's basketball team is looking to stop a three-game losing streak as they host a pair of conference games this week. The Golden Eagles will host MacMurray on Wednesday and Eureka on Saturday. Spalding is currently 6-6 in the SLIAC, tied for 6th place in the standings.

Webster University

The Webster women's basketball team is starting to separate themselves in the conference standings. At 7-3 the Gorloks are two games behind first-place but by winning 6 of their last 7 games they have now opened up a two-game lead over the next closest team behind them. Webster faces a key conference game against Eureka on Wednesday night.

Westminster College

Two-time defending SLIAC Tournament Champion Westminster knows that just getting into the postseason is all that matters. The Blue Jays, currently in third place with an 8-5 conference record, will be looking to further secure their spot into the postseason as they face just one team with a winning conference record during their final five contests.