Game Notes | GLVC Tournament Information
EVANSVILLE, Ind.—After winning five straight games and seven of its last eight, the University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team is making significant moves in the latest regional and national polls.
The Screaming Eagles (22-7, 13-5 GLVC), who are hosting a first-round and quarterfinal game in the GLVC Tournament this weekend after securing the second seed from the GLVC East Division, jumped three spots into fifth in the latest NCAA II Midwest Region rankings. USI secured the right to host this weekend's games with its overtime victory over Quincy University on Monday.
USI, which also is receiving votes in the latest USA Today/ESPN Top 25 Coaches' Poll for the first time since 2007-08, begins its run for a GLVC title Sunday at 1 p.m. when it hosts either Lewis University or Missouri University of Science and Technology at the Physical Activities Center. Lewis and Missouri S&T play Saturday at 1 p.m. at the PAC.
Despite earning the right to host a GLVC Tournament game with their third overtime win this month, the Eagles will have a tough challenge in order to advance to next weekend's GLVC Tournament semifinals in Springfield, Illinois, regardless of Saturday's outcome.
The Eagles suffered losses to both Lewis and Missouri S&T earlier this season, though both contests were away from the friendly confines of the PAC, where USI has posted a perfect 14-0 mark this season.
For the Eagles to improve to 15-0 at the PAC this season, they will need to get the type of production out of their reserves that they have received in the last two games. USI's bench has provided the Eagles with a combined 64 points in the last two games, including 37 against Quincy Monday night.
Sophomore guard Cootie Leeberg came off the bench to score 11 points in each of the last two games, including seven in overtime against Quincy. Fellow classmate Ashton Mertens scored 16 points against Quincy off the bench, while junior forward/center Stephanie McSparin is averaging 9.7 rebounds per contest off the bench in USI's last three games.
Of course, USI's starting five has been very effective in the month of February, with junior guards Ellen Young and Amie Newhart leading the team with 16.4 points and 12.4 points per contest, respectively, during the eight-game stretch. Senior guard/forward Abby Williams, who scored 22 points and pulled down 11 rebounds in USI's win over Quincy, is chipping in 10.0 points and a team-high 7.0 rebounds during that same time period.
Still, the Eagles will have to buck recent trends in order to advance in the conference tournament.
Lewis (16-11, 12-6 GLVC) has taken two straight games from USI, including a 60-51 decision in Romeoville, Illinois, earlier this season. Senior guard Kelly Dianis led the Flyers with 17 points and 11 rebounds in the victory, though junior forward Jenny Turpel figures to be the Eagles' primary focus to stop from a defensive standpoint.
Turpel leads the Flyers with 17.7 points and 8.0 rebounds per contest, while Dianis is second on the team with 10.7 points and 4.0 rebounds per appearance.
Missouri S&T (14-13, 8-10 GLVC) is 10-1 all-time against the Eagles, including its 73-51 win over the Eagles in Rolla, Missouri, in January. The Miners got 18 points from senior guard Andrea Downs and held the Eagles to a season-low 26.9 percent shooting clip in the previous meeting. Downs leads the Miners with 11.1 points per contest, while sophomore guard/forward Julie Meyer is second on the team with 10.2 points per game.
Tickets for this weekend's games are $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 18-and-under, while USI students with a valid identification will be admitted free of charge. Tickets will be available at the USI Ticket Office (812/465-7165) on the second floor of the PAC Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and at the USI Ticket Window in the front lobby of the PAC an hour before each game.
