EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women's Basketball opens the Ohio Valley Conference schedule this week at Liberty Arena, home of the Screaming Eagles, against Tennessee State University Thursday at 5 p.m. and the University of Tennessee at Martin Saturday at 1 p.m.
 
This week's games can be seen with a subscription to ESPN+ and heard on The Spin 95.7 FM and WREF 97.7 FM.
 
Thursday is Community Day at Liberty Arena with local community organizations in attendance. Plus, it is 812 Night with Hacienda West Evansville. Doubleheader tickets are $8.12 for upper-level seating. Along with discounted tickets, USI encourages fans to visit Hacienda West for their $8.12 small famous wet burrito that comes with a drink from 2-6 p.m. Customers can show their e-ticket from the game to receive the limited-time offer at Hacienda West.
 
Saturday is Education Day for all kindergarten through eighth-grade students receiving free student admission to the doubleheader. Adults and guests with students can attend the game for $5. The first 100 kids will receive a free book sponsored by Young and Established, along with a free hot dog from the concession stand.
 
This week's slate of games is the first of three straight home games to begin the OVC slate for the Screaming Eagles between December 19 and 31. Southern Indiana heads into conference play with an 8-3 overall record, a program best since making the jump to Division I and joining the Ohio Valley Conference in 2022. USI is 5-0 at home this season and has won 15 straight regular-season home games going back to last December.
 
USI enters the conference slate ranked No. 20 in the latest CollegeInsider.com Women's Mid-Major Top 25®. The Screaming Eagles have been top 20 in the rankings for five consecutive weeks. USI also checks into Thursday's action in the mid 90s of the NCAA NET ratings and as the only OVC women's team in the top 100.
 
Within the OVC, the Eagles rank atop the conference in scoring defense, field-goal percentage defense, and three-point defense. USI is second in turnover defense, steals, and defensive rebounds per game. USI ranks top 20 in the nation in field-goal percentage defense (34.5). Offensively, USI ranks second in the OVC in scoring offense and first in overall shooting percentage and assist-to-turnover ratio, among other categories. However, USI's collective three-point percentage (39.7) not only ranks first in the OVC but also top 10 in the nation.
 
The Screaming Eagles concluded its non-conference schedule on Sunday with a 73-50 setback at the University of Illinois. After USI's defense set an early tone to allow the Eagles to take a 13-9 lead after the first quarter, offensive struggles swung the momentum to Illinois' favor as the Fighting Illini went ahead and pulled away for the win in Champaign, Illinois. USI graduate forward Meredith Raley and senior guard Vanessa Shafford led the Eagles with 13 and 11 points, respectively.
 
On the season, Raley paces Southern Indiana with 13.2 points per contest. Junior guard Ali Saunders is second in scoring with 12.1 points per outing while Shafford is third at 11.5 points per game. Southern Indiana averages 71.9 points while limiting opponents to 57.5 points per game so far this season.
 
Tennessee State starts OVC play with a 4-6 mark under first-year head coach Candice Dupree. The Tigers finished its preseason schedule with consecutive losses, including an 85-38 loss last time out at the University of Mississippi on December 8.
 
Freshman guard Somah Kamara tops TSU in scoring at just over 14 points per outing. Returning senior guards Sanaa' St. Andre and Saniah Parker are second and third in scoring, respectively, at 12.6 and 11.7 points per game. The Tigers average 65.5 points while allowing 75.5 points so far this year.
 
USI and Tennessee State have split their four all-time meetings over the last two seasons, 2-2, with each having a home and road win in the series. Tennessee State gave USI its only blemish in the 2023-24 OVC regular season down in Nashville, Tennessee.
 
UT Martin tips off OVC action Thursday at Morehead State University before venturing to Evansville on Saturday. The Skyhawks are 2-8 through the main portion of their non-conference schedule, which featured games against three power-conference teams. Last time out, UT Martin captured an 82-71 win against Arkansas State University.
 
Junior forward Anaya Brown is the Skyhawks' leading scorer at 13.4 points per game. Sophomore guard Kenley McCarn and redshirt junior guard Shae Littleford are right behind at just above 11 points per contest. UT Martin has posted 60.2 points while allowing 75.5 points per game on the campaign.
 
Southern Indiana UT Martin has also split their four all-time meetings, 2-2. USI did not host UT Martin at Liberty Arena last season. However, the Screaming Eagles defeated the Skyhawks, 73-67, in Martin, Tennessee, and bested UT Martin, 81-53, in the OVC Tournament championship game last March.
 
Tickets for all home games at Liberty Arena can be purchased online at usiscreamingeagles.com or the USI Ticket Office.