Game Notes (pdf.)

EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team closes out the calendar year Thursday at 5:15 p.m. when it hosts No. 12 Michigan Tech University at the Physical Activities Center.

Thursday's contest is the first meeting between the two storied programs since December 20, 2002. Game coverage, including audio, video, and live stats can be accessed at gousieagles.com.

USI (5-4) is coming off a dominating 91-41 victory over Salem International University. The Screaming Eagles used a 24-0 run that lasted nearly 12 minutes of the first half to essentially end any chance of an upset.

Five players scored in double figures as the Eagles' rolled to their most lopsided win since defeating Marygrove University 101-40 November 22, 2009.

USI's competition Thursday, however, will be a much more difficult challenge for the Eagles. Michigan Tech has won back-to-back NCAA II Midwest Region titles and is coming off an impressive 60-55 win over No. 9 Grand Valley State University.

Despite losing its head coach, all five starters, including region player of the year Katie Wysocky, and its top five leading scorers from graduation, Michigan Tech is off to an 8-1 start and has established itself as one of the teams to beat in the Midwest Region yet again.

For the Eagles to gain a huge regional win, they will need senior guards Ellen Young and Amie Newhart to be at the top of their respective games. Young, who played just 12 minutes against Salem International, leads USI with 12.9 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. Newhart is chipping in 10.4 points and a team-high 2.6 assists per appearance.

Senior forward Lucy Dernovsek and junior forward Lindsey Lindstrom lead a strong defensive-minded Huskies squad that is averaging more than six blocks per game and holding opponents to just 55.0 points per contest. Dernovsek is averaging a team-high 11.9 points and 8.1 rebounds per contest, while Lindstrom is chipping in 11.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per outing.

The all-time series between USI and Michigan Tech is tied, 3-3, with the two teams splitting a pair of meetings since 2000. Michigan Tech defeated USI 72-61 in Houghton, Michigan, in the last meeting, while the Eagles defeated the Huskies, 95-79, at the PAC on November 19, 2001.

Following their meeting with Michigan Tech, the Eagles resume Great Lakes Valley Conference play with a brutal stretch that includes four games in a seven day span, beginning January 2 at Saint Joseph's College.