Game Notes (pdf.)
EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team is gearing up for round two against the Great Lakes Valley Conference East Division, beginning with its bout with No. 24 Lewis University Thursday at 5:15 p.m. at the Physical Activities Center.
USI (15-4, 7-4 GLVC) also hosts the University of Wisconsin-Parkside for Homecoming and its WBCA Play4Kay game Saturday at 1 p.m.
The Eagles, who were 4-3 in their first go-around against East Division opponents, are looking to exact a little revenge when they host Lewis and UW-Parkside; and in doing so, stay in the hunt for the East Division title and a bye into the quarterfinal round of the Deaconess GLVC Basketball Championship Tournament.
USI, which is tied with the Rangers for third in the East Division, suffered a tough 69-53 setback at Wisconsin-Parkside two weeks ago in Somers, Wisconsin, before being edged by Lewis, 71-69, two days later in Romeoville, Illinois.
The Eagles, who are 11-0 at the PAC this season, are looking to add to a two-game winning streak when it takes the court against Lewis. USI defeated Bellarmine University, 67-58, at the PAC last Thursday before rallying from a 13-point first half deficit to top McKendree University, 73-63, two days later in Lebanon, Illinois.
Sophomore forward/center
Anna Hackert paced the Eagles with 16.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per contest, while junior guard
Ariel Barnes added 13.0 points and 3.0 steals per outing. Junior guard
Stephanie Carpenter and sophomore forward/center
Mary O'Keefe contributed 12.5 and 11.0 points per game, respectively.
Hackert, who led the Eagles with 19 points and 11 rebounds in their first meeting with the Flyers, is averaging a team-high 15.2 points and 9.5 rebounds per contest. She also racked up 19 points and 10 rebounds in USI's loss to UW-Parkside.
The Flyers (16-3, 9-2 GLVC), who are atop the East Division standings, have won five straight, including a 78-75 double-overtime victory at the University of Indianapolis last week.
Sophomore forward/center Jess Reinhart, the reigning GLVC Player of the Week, leads Lewis with 14.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per contest. Senior forward Sam Rinehart, who is averaging 11.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per outing, scorched the Eagles in their previous meeting with 22 points and 11 rebounds.
Lewis leads the all-time series with the Eagles, 31-28, and is 14-11 in the series since 2000. USI leads the all-time series with UW-Parkside, 20-8, and is 13-7 in the series since 2000 despite dropping the last three meetings with the Rangers.
UW-Parkside (13-6, 7-4 GLVC), which visits Kentucky Wesleyan College Thursday, has won four straight games, including a thrilling 77-75 home win over Indianapolis Saturday.
Junior forward Danielle Slivka, who had 11 rebounds in the first meeting with the Eagles, tallied 17 points and 10 rebounds in the win over the Greyhounds. Senior guard Jenna Endisch, who had a game-high 22 points in the victory over USI, leads the Rangers with 14.2 points per appearance.
This week's games can be heard on WPSR 90.7 FM, while live stats, audio, and video can be accessed at gousieagles.com. Fans are encouraged to wear pink on Saturday as the Eagles attempt to raise breast cancer awareness.
