Game Notes
EVANSVILLE, Ind.—For the first time in a month, the University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team will have the opportunity to play a game in the friendly confines of the Physical Activities Center.
The fact that USI will play five of its final eight games at the PAC is a welcoming thought to a team that ended a six-game road swing with three straight losses and a 2-4 record. Now the Screaming Eagles can focus on getting back on track in a place they have been perfect at this season.
USI begins the month of February by hosting the University of Missouri-St. Louis Thursday at 5:15 p.m. and Rockhurst University Saturday at 1 p.m. Saturday's game is Homecoming for the Eagles and game coverage of both contests, including audio, video, and live stats, can be accessed at www.gousieagles.com.
In nine games at the PAC this season, USI is averaging nearly 84 points per game and shooting 48.0 percent from the field, 42.4 percent from three-point range. In seven road games, USI's offense has grinded down to just over 65 points per game and a shooting percentage of 40.9.
If the Eagles are to improve to 10-0 at the PAC with a win Thursday night, they must get the production they have been accustomed to getting from their bench. In USI's losses at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and Lewis University last week, the Eagles' reserves were held to an average 10.0 points per game. Prior to that, the Eagles' reserves were chipping in nearly 30 points per appearance.
USI's offense continues to be led by junior guards Ellen Young and Amie Newhart. Young is eighth in the GLVC with a team-high 14.6 points per outing, while Newhart is 21st in the conference and second on the team with 12.0 points per appearance.
Young, who is fourth in the league with 16.5 points per game in GLVC contests, recorded her 1,000th point of her collegiate career against UW-Parkside last Thursday. She is currently 31st all-time at USI with 662 points in an Eagle uniform after racking up 358 points as a freshman at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
Newhart, who is third in the GLVC and 17th in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.14), also is moving up in USI's record books. She is currently 17th all-time at USI with 836 career points and eighth all-time at USI with 229 career assists. Newhart needs just 11 points to surpass Jamie Truitt for 14th on USI's all-time scoring list.
The Eagles also have benefitted in the paint by the recent play of senior forward Anaris Sickles, who scored a career-high 22 points in USI's loss to Lewis. Sickles is averaging 13.3 points per game in USI's last four contests.
USI swept the season series with Missouri-St. Louis last season to improve to 25-10 all-time against the Tritons, 16-4 since 2000. The Eagles have won six straight games against the Tritons dating back to the 2006-07 campaign.
Missouri-St. Louis (10-11, 6-6 GLVC) has won three of its last four games, including a 71-51 victory over Rockhurst last Saturday. Sophomore guard/forward Hailee Deckard and senior guard Kristi White lead the Tritons with 11.3 and 11.0 points per game, respectively.
The Eagles are looking for their first win over Rockhurst since the 2007-08 season after losing both games in the season-series to the Hawks a year ago. USI still maintains a 6-3 edge in the all-time series, including a 5-3 edge since 2000.
Rockhurst (6-14, 2-10 GLVC), which visits Indianapolis Thursday, has lost three straight and seven of its last eight games. Senior center Meghan Hurley leads the team with 8.4 points per contest, while sophomore forward Chrissy Sarcone is second on the team with 8.2 points per appearance.
