FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Interstat) — The Fort Wayne Mastodons, fresh off a stunning upset of Purdue, will look to build momentum when they host the undefeated Southern Illinois Salukis in a non-conference women’s basketball game Saturday at Gates Sports Center.

Fort Wayne (1-2) earned a dramatic 68-67 victory over the Boilermakers on Wednesday. Jordan Reid led the way, scoring 21 points and grabbing seven rebounds in 38 minutes. Lili Krasovec added 15 points.

The Mastodons’ season, however, has been a tale of two results. Prior to the Purdue win, they suffered narrow losses to Xavier (62-61) and West Virginia (83-47).

Southern Illinois (1-0) opened its season with a 69-53 win over Lewis on Nov. 4. The Salukis showcased a balanced scoring attack, with Alayna Kraus (16 points, 7 rebounds), Karris Allen (14 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists) and Jeniah Thompson (12 points, 5 rebounds) all posting strong numbers.

The game presents a contrast in early-season trajectories. The Salukis aim to continue their winning start before a tough road stretch that includes games at Missouri and Arkansas. The Mastodons seek to prove their signature win was no fluke and even their record against a challenging early schedule.