Game Notes
EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team will face many challenges as it returns to the hardwood following the tragic loss of USI men's basketball player Jeron Lewis.
The Screaming Eagles, who postponed their games against Quincy University and Drury University, return to the court Thursday at 4:30 p.m. (CST) when it visits No. 3 University of Indianapolis. Audio, video, and live stat game coverage can be found by going to www.gousieagles.com.
USI (15-3, 6-1 GLVC) is coming off a dominating 79-71 victory over Kentucky Wesleyan College last Thursday in Owensboro, Kentucky, and is vying to win its third straight game and an edge in the battle for the GLVC East Division crown.
The Eagles, who are off to its best start in league play since opening the GLVC schedule in 1998-99 with six wins in their first seven conference games, are just a game back in the loss column to Indianapolis.
USI will look to junior guards Ellen Young and Amie Newhart to spark the team in the backcourt, but will need a strong effort in the frontcourt if it wishes to slow down one of the hottest teams in the nation.
Young, who drained five three-pointers and finished with 18 points against Kentucky Wesleyan, leads USI and ranks eighth in the conference with 14.8 points per outing. Newhart, who went 7-of-9 from the floor and finished with a game-high 19 points against the Panthers, is second on the team and 17th in the GLVC with 12.8 points per appearance. Newhart also is second in the GLVC and 15th in the country with a team-best 2.23 assist-to-turnover ratio.
Senior guard/forward Abby Williams, who had eight points and a team-high eight rebounds, will be counted on to lead the Eagles' frontcourt and try to slow down Greyhounds' junior forward Samantha Meissel. Williams is averaging 8.4 points and a team-best 5.2 rebounds per game and is one of the GLVC's best at drawing offensive fouls.
Indianapolis (17-0, 8-0 GLVC) has benefitted from Meissel's play all season as the Terre Haute, Indiana, native has earned GLVC Player of the Week honors three times. Meissel leads the GLVC with 20.4 points per game and is second in the conference with a .581 shooting percentage.
Under the direction of third-year coach and USI Hall of Fame member LeAnn Freeland '97, the Greyhounds have won 19 consecutive regular-season games dating back to the 2008-09 season.
Following the first of two meetings between USI and Indianapolis, the Eagles visit the top two teams in the GLVC North Division—the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and Lewis University—next week.
