Game Notes (pdf.)

EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team has been on a roll throughout its first three games of the 2011-12 season as its averaged nearly 96 points per game en route to its first 3-0 start since the 2008-09 campaign.

Tougher challenges await the young Screaming Eagles as they square off with Midwest Region foe and undefeated Northwood University Tuesday at 5:15 p.m. at the Physical Activities Center. USI continues its week Saturday and Sunday when it takes on St. Catharine College and Coker College at the MetroMedical Thanksgiving Classic in Louisville, Kentucky.

USI, which is coming off a dominating 109-42 win over NAIA Mid-Continent University this past Friday, has scored 287 points (95.7 ppg), the highest scoring output throughout the first three games since the Eagles scored 309 points (103 ppg) to begin the 2000-01 season and the second-highest total in the program's history.

Senior guard/forward Kristin Raker leads the Eagles with 14.7 points per contest, while freshman forward/center Anna Hackert is averaging 13.0 points and a team-best 7.3 rebounds per game.

Through three games, the Eagles lead the Great Lakes Valley Conference in six different statistical categories, including points per game and scoring margin (+47.7). USI, which has nine players ranked in 11 GLVC statistical categories, ranks in the top three of seven more statistical columns.

Northwood (4-0) is off to its best start since the 2008-09 season after defeating Alma College, 70-38, this past Saturday. The Timberwolves, who trail the all-time series with the Eagles, 2-1, are led by junior guard Rachel Church and senior forward/center Savannah Stedman.

Church is averaging a team-best 19.3 points per outing after pouring in a game-high 16 in Northwood's win over Alma, while Stedman is chipping in 16.3 points and a team-high 11.3 rebounds per appearance.

St. Catharine (7-0), which hosts the University of Rio Grande to open its conference schedule Monday night, is coming off a 79-54 win over West Virginia Tech this past Saturday. The Patriots, who are meeting the Eagles for the first time in women's basketball, are led by junior forward Janae Howard.

Howard, a transfer from Western Kentucky University and an Owensboro, Kentucky, native, is averaging a team-best 20.7 points and 11.1 rebounds per contest.

USI tips off with the Patriots Saturday at 4 p.m. (CST) in Bellarmine University's Knights Hall. The Eagles play Coker Sunday at 11 a.m.

Coker (0-3), which plays host Bellarmine University Saturday, also is meeting the Eagles in women's basketball for the first time Sunday. The Cobras, who fell to Fayetteville State University, 87-66, this past Saturday, are led by junior forward Jessica Cohen, who is averaging a team-high 15.0 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.

All three of USI's games this week can be heard via the radio at WPSR 90.7 FM, while live stats and audio can be accessed at gousieagles.com.