Game Notes

EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team renews its long-time rivalries this week as it opens Great Lakes Valley Conference play by traveling to Highland Heights, Kentucky, to take on GLVC East Division foe Northern Kentucky University at the Bank of Kentucky Center Thursday at 4:30 p.m. (CST).

USI, which is just one win shy of the program's 500th, concludes its opening weekend of conference play by hosting East Division opponent Bellarmine University Saturday at 5:15 p.m. at the Physical Activities Center. Game coverage, including audio, video, and live stats, can be accessed at gousieagles.com.

The Screaming Eagles (3-2, 0-0 GLVC) are coming off a hard-fought 61-48 victory over St. Mary's University (Texas), a game that featured a pair of teams that were receiving votes in last week's USA Today/ESPN Top 25 Coaches' Poll. USI is currently receiving eight votes in the latest Top 25 poll.

USI's win over the Rattlers stopped a two-game skid for the Eagles, who started the season with victories over Wayne State University and Minnesota State University-Moorhead. Senior forward/center Courtney Perry led the Eagles against St. Mary's with 12 points and nine rebounds, while senior guards Ellen Young and Amie Newhart chipped in 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Young leads the Eagles with 12.2 points and 6.0 rebounds per contest, while Newhart is averaging 12.0 points and a team-best 2.8 assists per outing. Perry is averaging a career-high 9.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.

A year ago, the Eagles posted historic two-game sweeps over both Northern Kentucky and Bellarmine. It marked the first time since 1996-97 that the Eagles have gone 2-0 against the Norse and the Knights in the same season.

Despite last season's success, the Eagles trail the all-time series to Northern Kentucky, 34-19, and are 8-12 since 2000 against the Norse.

Northern Kentucky (4-2, 0-0 GLVC) is looking to build on a three-game winning streak after starting the season with a 1-2 mark. The Norse defeated Wayne State 66-52 in their last outing, with sophomore center Ellen Holton leading the way with 19 points and seven rebounds.

For the season, junior guard Casse Mogan leads the Norse with 16.2 points per game, while junior forward Sadie Bowling is chipping in 10.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per contest.

Bellarmine (2-2, 0-0 GLVC), which will be making its third appearance at the Physical Activities Center in an eight day span after competing at the USI Thanksgiving Classic last weekend, is looking to snap a two-game losing streak when it opens conference play Thursday at Kentucky Wesleyan College.

The Knights are coming off a 74-68 setback to the University of Saint Francis (Indiana), a game that saw junior forward Lauren Jones rack up 28 points. Jones leads the Knights with 22.0 points and 7.8 rebounds per outing, while junior guard Allison Matheis is chipping in 14.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per contest.

USI trails the all-time series to Bellarmine, 39-17, and is 6-13 against the Knights since 2000.