It has been 10 days since the SIUC women’s basketball team has played a game of roundball, but the time off has given the team some much-needed rest to prepare for a return.

The Salukis finished fifth in the San Juan Shootout in Puerto Rico during the last weekend of November. Head coach Cindy Scott said after a 77-40 win against the University of Puerto Rico that the team was not only exhausted but also sick.

Ten days is a long time not to be playing, Scott said. For some reason we all came home from Puerto Rico sick. It is a long lay-off period, but it gave us a chance to get a little healthy.

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The Salukis will start up again with a trip to play the Tennessee Tech University Golden Eagles at 7 p.m. Saturday in Cookeville, Tenn. Tennessee Tech has a home record of 2-1, averaging more than 1,800 fans per game.

Scott said she expects to see some man-to-man defense from the Golden Eagles. But regardless of what defense they face, getting the ball to Theia Hudson underneath the basket will be the key for the Salukis. Hudson is averaging 18 points per game.

The Salukis have had to rely more on Hudson because their other post player, Melaniece Bardley, has experienced some early foul trouble in several games this season. In a 61-53 win against Murray State University Dec. 3, there was still almost seven minutes left when Bardley fouled out.

Bardley is not going to stop playing aggressively, but she said she is going to make sure that she is more careful, especially when playing against players smaller than her.

I get called for fouls so much, Bardley said. All of the games I have been in foul trouble has been the key to our losses. I have no doubt about that, despite what the coaches are saying. I think I just have to play smarter, whatever that means. My team needs me out there.

Bardley said another problem the Salukis have to correct is the amount of turnovers they have been committing. SIUC committed 24 turnovers in the Murray State game.

I think it has a lot to do us not jelling together as team just yet, Bardley said. I think that will come along when we play more games and have more practice.

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Scott said it will be important for the Salukis to avoid mistakes because it is tough to beat the Golden Eagles at home.

In many ways, the Golden Eagles are in the same position as the Salukis. Last season, Diane Seng was a freshman and, like Bardley, received a lot of playing time, eventually winning a starting role.

We (SIUC and Tennessee Tech) both are very similar, Scott said. We both have good returning starters.

Tennessee Tech returns four starters from last season. Seng leads the returnees with an average of 12.5 points per game. Last season, Seng led the nation in field goal percentage, shooting 67.8 percent from the field. She was named the Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year and was named to the All-OVC team.

The Golden Eagles have held opponents to just 58 points per game and an average of 38 percent per game from the field.

SIUC is 6-3 against the Golden Eagles, and Scott said that over the years, she has come to enjoy the battles that have been developed with the OVC team.

This has become a good rivalry between Tennessee Tech and SIUC, Scott said. We are friends with their coaches. It should be a fun game.

The Salukis battle Tennessee Tech at 7 p.m. Saturday in Cookeville, Tenn.