No more tune-ups, this one's for real.

After blowout exhibition victories over Division II Christian Brothers and NAIA Lambuth University, Southern Illinois University women's basketball team will test its mettle against Atlantic 10 foe Saint Louis University tonight at 7:05 p.m. in the season-opener for both teams.

"Theresa Lisch is a phenomenal guard," said SIU coach Dana Eikenberg. "She's got a couple wingmen that really can do a lot with her."

Lisch, a Belleville native, was picked to the A-10's preseason all-conference second team. The do-everything junior led the Billikens in scoring average (16.8 ppg), 3-pointers (39), free-throws (112), free-throw percentage (.882) and steals (34) in 2007-08. She also finished in the top 10 in league scoring, free-throw percentage, 3-pointers and minutes.

Lisch led all scorers with 18 points in SLU's 76-63 exhibition victory over Washington (Mo.) University on Nov. 7. The Billikens used an 11-0 run in the second half to subdue the Bears.

SIU also knows a thing or to about sustained offense. The Salukis strung together a 26-2 run to put away CB, and rattled off a 14-0 run against LU to turn a 10-9 deficit into a 23-10 advantage.

"There was a stretch there where (Jasmine Gibson) made a big steal (against LU) that gave us a little lift," said Eikenberg. "When our defense can dictate some of those things then we're going to score some easy baskets.

"We're just not fluid yet in our half-court set and that's where we've got to get this team to understand that our defensive intelligence is going to lead to some easy buckets."

Senior guard Erica Smith put up a double-double with 21 points and 13 rebounds to lead SIU to an 80-56 win over LU on Monday. The Lady Eagles didn't get their 30th point until 14:08 remained in the game.

"Going out and showing the other post players what to do by example is part of my role," said Gibson, who contributed 14 points and five boards on Monday. "That's how LaToya (Hambrick) was able to come out with good intensity and a lot of energy by watching on the bench."

Hambrick, a 6-foot freshman from Chicago, contributed seven points and two rebounds in six minutes of action against the Lady Eagles.

SIU can expect to face six returners and eight newcomers on the SLU roster, as the Billikens move into brand-new Chaifetz Arena this season. This game is also a matchup of teams picked in the lower half of their conferences by coaches and media. SLU was picked 10th in the A-10 and SIU tabbed ninth in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Fourth-year head coach Shimmy Gray-Miller has dedicated the team to a quicker style of play in 2008-09, taking advantage of SLU's natural athletic abilities.

"This will be a defining season for us," Gray-Miller said in a release. "We have recruited purposefully over the last three classes and this team reflects the vision we have had for this program all along."

The Billikens' backcourt tandem of Lisch and junior guard Katie Paganelli could cause SIU some problems. Paganelli averaged 16 points last season, leading SLU's offense six times during Lisch's eight-game absence due to injury. She finished with a 12.0 scoring average and 37 treys.

"We've got to be one, intelligent, two, disciplined and three, have great confidence in what we're doing," Eikenberg said. "We'll be prepared, but they're a very good team and we're going to show everybody what some of the new guys don't really see in terms of pace and physical play.

"If you thought there was some pressure against LU, you're going to see some physical play right from the handshake (tonight)."

pete.spitler@thesouthern.com /351-5073