If the University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team is going to improve its chances of being ranked in the first NCAA Great Lakes Regional rankings, it will need to take advantage of a pair of home games against regional foes, Northwood University and Ferris State University, this Saturday and Sunday, December 28 and 29. The Screaming Eagles are hosting the Great Lakes Valley Conference/Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Challenge at the Physical Activities Center.

The Eagles enter the weekend's action with a 4-5 record and are coming off a disappointing loss to Michigan Tech University last Friday in Houghton, Michigan. USI had trouble in the first half against Michigan Tech, giving up 22 points off 18 turnovers, as it saw its three-game winning streak come to an end.

Leading the way for USI is senior forward/center Africa Sherrod (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida) and junior forward Shajuan Lindsey (Midlothian, Illinois). Sherrod has recorded a double double in a school-record eight straight games and leads the Eagles with 15.1 points and 11.7 rebounds. Lindsey is second on the squad with 14.8 points and leads the team with 13 blocks.

USI's opponent on Saturday, Northwood, enters the contest with a 2-6 record and is led by senior forward La'Tonya Crawford and sophomore forward Kate Dupree. Crawford is averaging a team-high 13.6 points and 9.4 rebounds per game while Dupree is pouring in 13.5 points per outing.

The Eagles will close their weekend with Ferris State on Sunday. FSU enters the weekend's action with a 5-3 record and is led by junior guard Lucy DeMartin and junior forward/center Bridget Horwitz. DeMartin is leading the Bulldogs with 21.4 points per game while Horwitz is pumping in 18.6 points and a team-high 10.1 rebounds per contest.

USI has won all four meetings with Ferris State. Both games are slated for a 4 p.m. start time.

In addition to USI's games, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will play Ferris State on Saturday and Northwood on Sunday. Both of those games are slated for a 6 p.m. start at the PAC.

The Eagles will practice Friday from noon to 2 p.m. at the PAC. Please contact USI assistant sports information director Dan McDonnell for any interview requests.

Tickets for Sunday's contests are free with the purchase of a men's ticket. USI's men will host Lock Haven University at 1 p.m. on Sunday.