The University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team is opening the 2001-02 regular season on Friday, November 9, in the Division II Tip-Off Classic at Disney's Wide World of Sports. USI will play the University of Nebraska-Omaha in the first round at noon (CT).

The Screaming Eagles are coming off of their second best season ever, finishing 28-4 a year ago on the way to their second appearance in the NCAA Division II Elite Eight. The Eagles also won their second NCAA II Great Lakes Regional, took a share of the Great Lakes Valley Conference regular season crown, and captured its second GLVC Tournament championships.

USI is led into the season by the return of the 2001 GLVC Freshman of the Year Jessica Stuckman. Stuckman averaged 14.8 ppg and 6.4 rpg in her first season with the Eagles.

The sophomore forward also hopes to recreate her first trip to Disney's field house named the "Milk House." Stuckman averaged 18.5 ppg and 10.5 rpg in USI's victories over Northern Colorado University and Northwest Missouri State University last December in Florida.

The Tip-Off Classic will feature two other preseason ranked teams in 12th ranked Columbus State University, who defeated USI last March in the Elite Eight 21st ranked Ft. Valley State University and 18th ranked University of Minnesota-Duluth. USI is 47-13 against non-conference opponents since 1994-95.

The Eagles are under the direction of Head Coach Rick Stein, who has produced a record of 43-16 in two seasons at the helm.