EVANSVILLE, Ind.—Every year when the last undefeated team in the NFL is defeated, members from the 1972 Miami Dolphins football team "pops the cork" in celebration that its perfect season remains the only unblemished season in NFL history.
Don't expect any champagne bottles to be opened this week, but do expect that the University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team is looking forward to its opportunity to preserve its own place in history.
USI (13-11, 5-8 GLVC) went 20-0 in conference play during the 1996-97 season, marking the only time a women's team has gone undefeated in GLVC play. Now, No. 4-ranked Drury University (20-1, 13-0 GLVC) enters the Physical Activities Center poising a serious threat to match that accomplishment.
If the Screaming Eagles can upend Drury's run at perfection, they would give themselves a huge boost in the race for a spot in the GLVC Tournament. The pairings of the league's post-season tournament will be decided in the final three weekends of the season.
The Eagles, who are coming off an 85-75 setback at Kentucky Wesleyan College, are currently tied for the eighth and final spot in the GLVC Tournament, but may be trailing in many of the tie-breaker scenarios. USI still has an opportunity to make up ground in the GLVC's West Division, where it is tied for fourth, just two games back of the University of Missouri-Rolla for third and an automatic bid in the league's post-season tournament.
Drury, which hosts Rockhurst University, tonight at 5:45, is leading the race for the league's top seed in the GLVC Tournament by two games. The Panthers defeated USI, 79-59, in Springfield, Missouri, earlier this season despite a hard-fought effort by the Eagles.
Thursday's game is only the second time that USI and Drury have faced each other on the basketball hardwood.
Saturday, the Eagles host Rockhurst (4-16, 1-12 GLVC) at 1 p.m. for Homecoming at the PAC. The Eagles lead the all-time series with the Hawks, 2-0, after defeating them, 77-63, in Kansas City, Missouri, earlier this season.
