The University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team will get a boost this week when it welcomes back junior forward Shajuan Lindsey (Midlothian, Illinois) to its lineup. Lindsey missed the last two games due to illness, but is expected to play this Thursday, January 30, and Saturday, February 1, when the Screaming Eagles host Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and Quincy University.

USI (6-12 overall, 4-7 GLVC) is in desperate need of a win after dropping two games on the road last weekend. The Eagles are in eighth place in the GLVC, but could move up in the standings with a victory over SIU Edwardsville.

Returning to the Physical Activities Center will be a plus for the Eagles as they have fared much better at home than on the road. The Eagles are a dismal 1-8 away from the PAC while boasting a 5-4 record at home.

The numbers tell the story. At home, the Eagles are scoring 78.1 points and shooting 44.4 percent from the floor. Away from the PAC, USI is averaging 60.3 points and connecting on 37.6 percent of its shots.

Entering this week's action, the Eagles will need the continued of production from senior forward/center Africa Sherrod (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida) that they have seen at the PAC. Sherrod, who leads the GLVC in rebounds (11.1 rpg) and double-doubles (14), has been down-right dominating at the PAC, averaging 20.1 points and 12.2 rebounds per game. For the season, Sherrod is third in the league with 17.4 points per contest.

A player the Eagles have become more dependent upon is junior guard/forward Shannon Wells (Merrillville, Indiana). Since joining the starting lineup nine games ago, Wells has averaged 9.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.1 steals per game. For the season, Wells is averaging 7.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.

As would be expected in any game, the Eagles must protect the ball to have a chance this weekend. In their first game with SIUE, the Eagles trailed by 10 at the break after committing 13 turnovers in the first half. The Cougars converted those turnovers into 10 points.

In the second period of that contest, the Eagles gave up just two points off turnovers. Consequently, USI fell just short of the victory, 53-51.

Entering Thursday's contest with an 8-9 overall record and a 4-6 mark in GLVC play, the Cougars have relied upon the scoring threat of senior forward Ruth Kipping. Kipping leads the GLVC with 19.0 points a game and is pulling down a team-high 7.7 rebounds per game.

Junior guard Jessica Robert has served a dual threat this season for the Cougars, averaging 9.4 points and 5.1 assists per game.

In its last game, SIUE had three players finish with 11 points, but was outscored 28-22 in the paint in en route to a 68-56 loss to Quincy. The Cougars were out-rebounded, 39-32.

This game will be vital to both teams if they expect to have any chance of climbing up the ladder in the GLVC standings. If the Eagles are to be successful, they will have to take advantage of their dominance of the boards.

In the first meeting with SIUE, the Eagles out-rebounded the Cougars 43-28 and had a deciding advantage in second-chance points (14-2).

After its trip to the University of Missouri-St. Louis this Thursday, Quincy will be in town to take on the Eagles in Saturday's homecoming game. USI took 2-of-3 from the Hawks last year, including a 90-80 win in the GLVC Tournament.

Quincy enters this weekend's action with a 14-4 overall record, 8-3 in the GLVC, and is third in the conference standings. The Hawks feature a balanced scoring attack and have been strong on the boards this season, out-rebounding their opposition 40.2 to 33.9.

Leading the way for the Hawks is senior forward Jill Unnerstall and junior guard Tiffany Kelver. Unnerstall is averaging 14.2 points and 8.1 rebounds per game while Kelver is putting in 11.2 points, 4.7 assists, and 3.1 steals per game.

The Hawks are also getting support from juniors Courtney VonderHaar and Lisa Farrell. VonderHaar is averaging 11.3 points per outing while Farrell is adding 10.6 points per contest.

Both games this week are slated for 5:15 p.m. starts at the PAC. Fans are encouraged to dress in red.