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Davies Gym

Davies Gymnasium Photo

Originally known as simply the Men's Gymnasium, Davies Gym has been the home of Saluki athletics for over seventy years.

Built in 1925 with a $170,000 price tag, The gymnasium served as the home of SIUC's men's and women's indoor sports programs until the men moved into the SIU Arena in 1964.

Longtime chairman of the SIUC physical education department for women, Dorothy Davies, retired in 1974, and since then the facility has been known as Davies Gym.

With the growing success of the women's program in the 1970s and early '80s, renovation of the gym was undertaken and completed in 1982 thanks to a $3.35 allocation by then-governor Jim Thompson.

The "new" gym was able to seat 1,250 fans anxious to watch their Saluki women's volleyball and basketball teams in action. On September 5, 1982, those fans were able to see the Saluki volleyball team win its first match in the renovated gymnasium over state rival Illinois, 15-8, 8-15, 15-13, 15-7.

The first sellout crowd for a women's basketball game at SIUC took place on March 1, 1986 when an overflow crowd of 1,503 packed Davies to watch the Salukis edge Drake 49-47, securing SIUC's first ever Gateway Conference crown and NCAA Tournament bid.

With the move of the women's basketball team to the SIU Arena in 1987-88, volleyball is the only varsity sport still played at Davies.

Over the years, Davies has provided a hostile environment for opposing teams. During the 1990s at home, Saluki teams have compiled a 75-49 mark (.605). The 1998 squad set a school record for most wins in a season at home with 12 and matched the 1995 team's school record of seven conference victories at Davies the same year.

"Davies will be a great place to play," Saluki head coach Brenda Winkeler said. "Hopefully, with fan support, we can make it a place that conference opponents don't like to come and play."

Top-25 Attendance Marks at Davies Gym

Rank Att. Opponent Date
1. 713 Illinois State September 14, 2007
2. 668 Northern Iowa November 9, 1990
3. 632 Southeast Missouri State November 11, 1995
4. 620 Northern Iowa September 24, 1993
5. 594 Southwest Missouri State November 14, 1986
6. 578 Illinois State October 25, 1996
7. 559 Indiana State October 17, 1997
8. 550 Northern Iowa September 18, 1992
9. 538 Northern Iowa October 24, 1986
10. 537 Drake November 12, 1999
11. 525 Louisiana State October 11, 1986
12. 522 Bradley October 14, 1989
13. 516 Creighton November 7, 1997
14. 508 Illinois State October 18, 1997
15. 500 Illinois State October 6, 1995
  500 Illinois State October 30, 1982
17. 490 Wichita State November 15, 1986
18. 475 Southwest Missouri State September 26, 1997
  475 Utah October 10, 1986
20. 467 Wichita State November 16, 2002
21. 455 Bradley September 23, 2003
22. 454 Drake November 8, 1997
23. 450 Northern Iowa November 11, 1994
24. 443 Indiana State November 12, 2004
25. 437 Northern Iowa November 10, 2007

A Homecourt Advantage

Year Record Pct.
1977 8-9 .471
1978 9-5 .643
1979 9-8 .529
1980 12-6 .667
1981 7-4 .636
1982 5-3 .625
1983 5-6 .455
1984 10-1 .909
1985 11-6 .647
1986 9-1 .900
1987 8-5 .615
1988 7-7 .500
1989 6-4 .600
1990 2-7 .222
1991 9-2 .818
1992 7-5 .583
1993 9-5 .643
1994 9-4 .692
1995 9-4 .692
1996 5-6 .455
1997 9-5 .643
1998 12-3 .800
1999 4-8 .333
2000 4-8 .333
2001 6-7 .461
2002 9-5 .643
2003 3-10 .231
2004 6-8 .429
2005 4-7 .364
2006 5-8 .385
2007 8-5 .615
Total 226-172 .568

 
 

Southern Illinois University Facilities
 
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