EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women's Basketball continues its season-opening homestand at Liberty Arena against Murray State University on Friday. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m.
 
Friday's game can be seen with a subscription to ESPN+ and heard on The Spin 95.7 FM and WREF 97.7 FM (internet stream only).
 
To celebrate the beginning of the 2025-26 season, a First Friday Tailgate for the USI community and Screaming Eagles fans will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Friday, November 7, in Parking Lot P (behind the Screaming Eagles Complex). After the tailgate, USI Women's and Men's Basketball will tip off against Murray State and Virginia Military Institute, respectively. Women's game starts at 5 p.m. with the men's game beginning at 7:30 p.m.
 
Sponsored by the Center for Campus Life, Housing and Residence Life, and the USI Foundation, the tailgate will feature food, music by DJ Brash, free giveaways, and activities including inflatables, putt-putt, games, and more. There will also be a beer garden for fans 21 years and older (ID required to enter; cash and card accepted).

Plus, there will be a Penn Station East Coast Subs free sandwich coupon giveaway to the first 2,500 fans through the doors of Liberty Arena.
 
USI Women's Basketball (1-0) began the 2025-26 season on Monday with an 85-45 home victory against Franklin College. The contest was at 19 after the first quarter, but the Screaming Eagles pulled away in the second quarter after outscoring the Grizzlies 25-8 in the period. Collectively, USI shot over 50 percent from the floor and forced 34 turnovers that led to 46 points for the Eagles. USI also had 29 bench points in the contest.
 
On Monday, junior forward Chloe Gannon led four Screaming Eagles in double figures with 17 points, one off her career high. Junior guard Shannon Blacher made her USI debut with 15 points and seven steals, setting new career marks. Junior guard Sophia Loden tallied 11 points, six rebounds, five assists, and five steals. Junior forward Amiyah Buchanan netted 10 points and had a career-high four blocks.
 
Murray State is the reigning Missouri Valley Conference champion, winning the regular season and conference tournament titles in 2024-25. Murray State was projected to place second in the 2025-26 MVC preseason poll.
 
Friday's game will be Murray State's season opener. The Racers defeated Trevecca Nazarene University in a preseason exhibition on Monday, 102-61. Five Racers scored double digits in the exhibition. Junior guards and returning All-MVC Second-Team selections Haven Ford and Halli Poock notched 22 and 20 points, respectively, to pace the squad.
 
Head-to-head, Murray State leads the all-time series against USI, 5-2. The two sides are meeting for the fourth straight season. USI won last year's matchup at Murray State, 82-75. The Screaming Eagles had six players finish in double figures in last year's win in Murray, Kentucky. Senior guard Ali Saunders and Buchanan each tallied a dozen in the game.
 
Tickets for Friday and all home games at Liberty Arena can be purchased online at usiscreamingeagles.com or the USI Ticket Office.