EVANSVILLE, Ind.—University of Southern Indiana Women's Basketball returns to non-conference play Saturday at 3 p.m. when it hosts NAIA foe Harris-Stowe State University at the Physical Activities Center. The Screaming Eagles continue non-conference action December 19 at 5 p.m. (CST) when they travel to Harrogate, Tennessee, to take on South Atlantic Conference opponent Lincoln Memorial University.

Both games can be heard on WSWI 95.7 FM The Spin—the Lincoln Memorial game will be joined in-progress following the conclusion of the USI Men's Basketball contest—while live stats, audio and video links can be accessed at GoUSIEagles.com. Saturday's contest also will be carried on the GLVC Sports Network.

USI (8-0) begins the week ranked No. 7 in the latest Division II Media Poll and No. 17 in the USA Today Sports/NCAA Division II Coaches' Poll. The Eagles, who also remain at No. 2 in both the Herosports.com rankings and Massey Ratings, jumped two spots in this week's media poll and five spots in coaches' poll.

USI Women's Basketball Notes (12/12/17)
• Last two. USI opened GLVC play with a 67-56 win home win over Lewis University and a 73-66 road win at the University of Indianapolis. The Eagles used an 11-2 run throughout the final five minutes of the contest to hold off the Flyers' comeback bid; then used a 21-5 third quarter to rally past the Greyhounds.

• Leaders. Senior forward Morgan Dahlstrom (Grayslake, Illinois) racked up 26.0 points and 7.5 rebounds per game to lead the Eagles in the opening week of conference play. Senior guard/forward Kaydie Grooms (Marshall, Illinois) chipped in 18.0 points per appearance, while junior guard Alex Davidson (Salem, Indiana) added 9.0 points, 3.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game.

• Dahlstrom nets GLVC honor. Dahlstrom earned GLVC Player of the Week honors for her efforts in USI's wins over Lewis and Indianapolis. Dahlstrom had 17 points and six rebounds versus Lewis and had 35 points and nine rebounds against UIndy. It was the second time this year that Dahlstrom has earned GLVC Player of the Week accolades.

• Great start. USI's 8-0 start is its best since going 11-0 to begin the 2012-13 season and the fifth best start to a season in program history.
Year    Start    Finish    Post-season Play
1994-95    15-0    22-5 (14-4 GLVC)    GLVC co-Champs/NCAA II G.L. Regional
1997-98    11-0    26-2 (17-1 GLVC)    GLVC Champs/hosted NCAA II G.L. Regional
2012-13    11-0    17-10 (9-9 GLVC)    GLVC Tournament (1st RD)
2000-01    9-0    28-4 (17-3 GLVC)    GLVC & G.L. Region Champs/NCAA Elite Eight
2017-18    8-0    ...    ...

• Eagles limit opponents to single-digit quarters. USI has limited the opposition to less than 10 points in a quarter eight times this year, including four times at the Bellarmine Thanksgiving Classic. The Eagles held Grand Valley State University to single digits in three quarters.

• Eagles continue to rule third quarter, second half. The Eagles have outscored their opponents by an average of 16.5 points per contest in the second halves of their first eight contests. In particular, the third quarter has been generous to the Eagles, who are outscoring the opposition 164-74.

• What's next? After a two-week layoff, the Eagles resume non-conference play when they host NAIA opponent Harris-Stowe State December 16. USI also visits 2017 NCAA II Tournament participant Lincoln Memorial December 19.

• A look at Harris-Stowe. Senior forward Dynesha Powell is averaging 12.0 points per game to lead the Hornets, who are 5-4 overall and 3-1 in the American Midwest Conference. HSSU visits NAIA No. 23 Lindenwood-Belleville Thursday before traveling to Evansville Saturday.

• A look at Lincoln Memorial. Senior guard Shea Coker averages 16.9 points and 6.0 rebounds per game to lead the Railsplitters, who are 5-3 overall and 2-1 in the South Atlantic Conference. LMU, which hosts Wingate University Wednesday before visiting Newberry College Saturday, was 28-5 overall and 19-3 in the SAC a year ago. The Railsplitters returned three starters and 10 players from last year's squad that advanced to the championship game of the NCAA II Southeast Region Tournament.

• What's ahead? Following an 11-day break, USI hosts NAIA foe Grace College December 31 before resuming GLVC play January 4 with a home game against Missouri-St. Louis.

• Record book watch. Three players are in currently in USI's record books:
–Kaydie Grooms is 12th in scoring (1,162), is 16th in blocks (51) and 22nd in rebounds (426).
–Randa Harshbarger is tied for seventh in assists (291) and 12th in steals (149);
–Morgan Dahlstrom is 13th in rebounds (521), 13th in blocks (55) and 35th in scoring (705).

• USI in statistical rankings. USI begins the week ranked first in the GLVC in scoring defense (52.3 ppg) and three-point field goal percentage defense (.243). The Eagles rank in the top five of 13 GLVC statistical categories and in the top 25 of four NCAA II statistical categories.

• Eagles in statistical rankings. Several Eagles are in the top 15 of GLVC statistical categories to begin the week:
–Morgan Dahlstrom (7 categories) ranks No. 1 in defensive rebounds (6.8 drpg);
–Kacy Eschweiler (1 category) is tied for No. 8 in blocks (1.3 bpg);
–Kaydie Grooms (6 categories) is No. 4 in scoring (18.5 ppg) and minutes played (34.6 mppg);
–Imani Guy is tied for 10th in blocks (1.1 bpg)
–Randa Harshbarger (3 categories) is No. 1 in steals (3.8 spg) and second in the nation in total steals (25).