EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team begins a four-game road trip, its longest of the season, Thursday at 5:45 p.m. when it travels to Springfield, Missouri, to take on No. 15 Drury University in a Great Lakes Valley Conference contest. USI also travels to Rolla, Missouri, to take on Missouri University of Science & Technology Saturday at 1 p.m.
Both games can be heard on WPSR 90.7 FM, while live stats, audio, and video (Saturday only) can be accessed at gousieagles.com.
USI (10-2, 2-0 GLVC) is looking to continue its strong start to GLVC play after dispatching William Jewell College, 80-59, and Rockhurst University, 76-70, last week at the Physical Activities Center. The Screaming Eagles shot 52.2 percent from the field in the two victories, including a season-best 53.2 percent in their win over William Jewell.
Senior forward/center
Anna Hackert (Evansville, Indiana) led the Eagles with 19.5 points and 11.5 rebounds per contest, while senior guard
Autumn Miller (Louisville, Kentucky) came off the bench to contribute 12.5 points and 5.0 assists per game.
Hackert leads the Eagles and ranks sixth in the GLVC with 15.8 points per contest, while her team-high 12.1 rebounds per outing are second in the GLVC.
Fellow classmate
Mary O'Keefe (Edwardsville, Illinois) is second on the team and 24th in the GLVC with 11.8 points per game, while sophomore guard
Tanner Marcum (New Albany, Indiana) is chipping in 10.3 points per appearance.
The Eagles suffered a heart-breaking loss to Drury a year ago at the PAC when junior guard Annie Armstrong hit a shot at the buzzer to give the Panthers a 91-89 victory. USI, which had led for most of the second half, erased a seven-point deficit in the final minute of the game before Armstrong connected on the buzzer-beater.
Armstrong currently leads the Panthers (9-2, 3-0 GLVC), who are the defending Midwest Region champions, with 13.5 points per contest. Senior center Sanayika Shields is chipping in 12.0 points and a team-best 9.4 rebounds per contest.
On Saturday, the Eagles look to continue the success they had against Missouri S&T last season. USI defeated the Miners, 91-62, in the regular season before posting a 63-50 win over Missouri S&T in the first round of the GLVC Tournament.
Missouri S&T (4-7, 0-3 GLVC), which hosts Bellarmine University Thursday, is led by junior forward Leigh-Ann Kesper, who is averaging 9.3 points and 6.1 rebounds per contest.
Following USI's visits to Drury and Missouri S&T, the Eagles open GLVC East Division play with stops at Saint Joseph's College and the University of Indianapolis.
