EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women's Basketball resumes a three-game homestand in Ohio Valley Conference action Thursday against the University of Arkansas at Little Rock at 5 p.m. and Saturday against the University of Tennessee at Martin at 5 p.m.
 
Both matchups can be seen live with a subscription to ESPN+ and heard on 95.7 FM The Spin (http://957thespin.com).
 
Thursday's game against Little Rock is part of Whiteout Night at Screaming Eagles Arena. Fans are encouraged to wear white apparel for the game. USI students are encouraged to pack the Penn Station Student Section, and the first 250 students to enter at the student entrance will receive a free t-shirt. Plus, USI students can enter a raffle giveaway for a PS5, courtesy of USI Housing and Residence Life.
 
In addition to Whiteout Night Thursday, Saturday's USI-UT Martin contest is Military Appreciation Day, which is sponsored by the USI Student Veteran Association. Veterans and their guests will receive free tickets with proof of service (limit to five per veteran).
 
Tickets to the game can be purchased online at usi.universitytickets.com.
 
The Screaming Eagles (8-7, 2-2) got back on track after a brief, two-game skid with a convincing 79-59 home win last Saturday against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. USI has won five of the last eight games.
 
USI had a fast start against SIUE on Saturday, outscoring the Cougars 23-15 after the first. Following a defensive second period, USI came out of halftime with a strong third quarter, building a 20-point lead that held for the sizable win.
 
USI had six players score eight or more in the win with four in double figures. Sophomore guard Vanessa Shafford (Linton, Indiana) and senior forward Hannah Haithcock (Washington Courthouse, Ohio) each posted a double-double. Shafford recorded 18 points and 12 rebounds, while Haithcock tallied 14 points and 10 boards. For Shafford, it was her third double-double of the season, and for Haithcock, it was her second of the season.
 
Saturday marked the first time two USI players tallied double-doubles in the same game since February 17, 2018, when Kaydie Grooms registered 26 points and 12 rebounds and Morgan Dahlstrom accumulated 20 points and 10 rebounds against Rockhurst University.
 
Shafford continues to shoot the ball well from outside the perimeter. The sophomore just missed out on a perfect 5-for-5 performance from distance on Saturday against SIUE, as she went 4-for-5 against the Cougars. Shafford already achieved a 5-for-5, three-point performance earlier this season on November 19 against Bowling Green State University. Shafford leads the nation in three-point percentage at 60.3 percent. The 5'9" guard is averaging 13.3 points per game and team-best 7.2 rebounds per game. Shafford is averaging 14.5 points and 7.8 boards per outing in conference-only games. Plus, she is hitting at a 67 percent clip from three against the OVC.
 
Haithcock has continued her sharp performance in recent weeks. The senior forward has scored 14 or more points in the last eight games, including two career-high games. In the last eight games, Haithcock is averaging 17.1 points and 7.8 rebounds per contest. Haithcock paces USI with 15.2 points per game this season. Against the OVC, Haithcock is averaging a team-high 17 points and 8.3 caroms per game.
 
After being held to four points on December 31 at Eastern Illinois University, junior forward Meredith Raley (Haubstadt, Indiana) has bounced back well. Raley scored 18 points last Thursday at Morehead State University and 14 points on Saturday against SIUE. The junior is second on the team in overall scoring at 13.9 points per game.
 
Graduate forward Ashlynn Brown (Perrysburg, Ohio) also had a notable game against SIUE on Saturday, recording 10 points and eight rebounds. It was her first game in double digits since tying a career high with 19 points on December 21 against Brescia University (Ky.). Brown had three blocks in the game, giving her 17 total to tie with Haithcock this season. Brown's eight rebounds also contributed to the team's total of 53 boards against the Cougars, which matched the team's season high for the third time this season.
 
What was also impressive with USI's 53 rebounds against SIUE was that 19 came from the offensive glass. The Screaming Eagles' rebounding efforts have taken over the top spot in the OVC entering the week. USI is first in rebounds per game with 38.9, defensive rebounds per game with 26.5, and offensive rebounds per game with 12.5. Additionally, USI is first in the conference in rebound margin and total rebounds.
 
Thursday's opponent, Little Rock, is 7-8 overall and tied for first with Eastern Illinois in the OVC standings with a 4-0 conference record. The Trojans have been a low-scoring team this season, averaging 50.9 points per game. Little Rock has the lowest number of three-pointers made and attempted in the nation this season. The Trojans' 12 triples made from 71 attempts adds up to a three-point percentage of 16.9 percent.
 
Little Rock has won four consecutive games, including a 65-45 win against Southeast Missouri State University last Saturday. Junior forward Sali Kourouma led Little Rock in the game with 30 points. She paces the Trojans at 16.3 points per game this season after coming back into the fold at the start of conference play.
 
Saturday's opponent, UT Martin, enters the week with a 6-9 record and a 2-2 mark in conference action. The Skyhawks are averaging 61.2 points per game and are right up there with USI in field goal percentage at 41.2 percent from the field.
 
The Skyhawks dropped their last game, 61-49, against Tennessee Tech University on Saturday, as they were unable to overcome a halftime deficit after being outscored 28-15 in the second quarter against the Golden Eagles. UT Martin will face Tennessee State University Thursday before coming to Screaming Eagles Arena on Saturday.
 
During the season, UT Martin has dealt with injuries. Freshman Kenley McCarn leads UT Martin at 19.8 points per contest but has not played since November 21. Freshman forward Sharnecce Currie-Jelks actively leads UT Martin in scoring at 13.7 points per game. Graduate guard Paige Pipkin is averaging 10.9 points and Littleford is averaging 10.1 points per outing.
 
This week's matchups for USI against Little Rock and UT Martin will be the first all-time meetings in both games.
 
Following the conclusion of the three-game homestand on Saturday, Southern Indiana will hit the road next week for two games near the metro area of St. Louis, Missouri. USI will first travel to Lindenwood University next Thursday for a 5:30 p.m. tilt before facing SIUE once again on the road next Saturday at 1 p.m.