EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women's Basketball tips off the 2026-27 season Monday at 6 p.m. when USI hosts Murray State University inside Liberty Arena, home of the Screaming Eagles.
 
The season-opening contest can be seen with a subscription to ESPN+ and heard on The Spin 95.7 FM.
 
USI Women's Basketball heads into Monday's season-opening tilt with 799 all-time wins, seeking win number 800 with the next victory.
 
Last year, USI went 21-11 overall and 14-6 in the Ohio Valley Conference. The Screaming Eagles advanced to the OVC Tournament semifinals for the third straight year, but fell in the semis against tournament runner-up Lindenwood University.
 
After another strong run in the OVC, USI earned its third straight berth in the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT). Following a first-round bye, USI fell at home to George Washington University 61-58 in the second round.
 
In 2025-26, USI recorded its 37^th winning season in program history. The Screaming Eagles also secured their 16^th season with at least 20 wins. Last year was USI's third season in a row with 20-plus wins.
 
USI Women's Basketball was projected as the preseason favorite in the 2026-27 OVC Predicted Order of Finish. The Screaming Eagles finished third in the 2025-26 OVC standings. In addition to returning All-OVC senior forward Chloe Gannon, senior guards Sophia Loden and Tamara Ortiz were recognized as OVC Preseason Players to Watch. Gannon was a Second-Team All-OVC selection at the end of last season, starting all 32 games and averaging 13.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Gannon was top three in the OVC with 37 blocks and logged 27 games scoring 10 or more points, including 17 consecutive games to finish the season. Loden, who also started all 32 games last season, averaged nearly 10 points and paced the team with 6.9 boards per contest. Loden posted seven double-doubles a season ago. Ortiz comes to USI after spending last year at the University of South Alabama, where she made seven starts in 33 appearances and averaged 9.2 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. Ortiz also dished out 79 assists and shot a team-best 77.3 percent at the foul line.
 
Heading into 2026-27 and the 28^th season under Head Coach Rick Stein, USI returns 10 players from last season and adds three newcomers (two freshmen and one transfer). The Screaming Eagles bring back four starters.
 
The Screaming Eagles return to over 67 percent of last season's scoring average. Gannon is the top returning scorer at 13.3 points per game on nearly 47 percent shooting last season. USI graduated its leading scorer from last year in Ali Saunders (17.8), who also led the squad with 4.7 assists and 35 minutes per contest.
 
As a team, USI ranked third in the OVC last season in scoring offense (69.4). However, the Screaming Eagles' defense led the conference in multiple categories, including field-goal percentage defense (37.2), rebounds per game (40.2), scoring defense (58.7), steals per game (10.1), and turnover defense (18.5).
 
Murray State is coming off back-to-back Missouri Valley Conference championship seasons. Last season, the Racers went 31-4 overall and 19-1 in the MVC. After defeating the University of Evansville in the MVC Tournament Championship, 91-70, the Racers fell in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to fifth-seeded University of Maryland, 99-67.
 
The Racers also return four starters and their top four scorers from last season. Halli Poock (22.5), Sharnecce Currie-Jelks (17.4), Haven Ford (17.1), and Keslyn Secrist (13.0) are all back for Murray State in 2026-27. As a team, Murray State averaged 85.6 points and allowed 73.9 points per game in 2025-26. Currie-Jelks averaged a double-double last year by pulling down 11.7 rebounds per contest.
 
USI and Murray State meet at Liberty Arena for the second straight season and for the fifth straight season overall. Murray State leads the all-time series 6-2, and the Racers won on a buzzer-beater last season, 79-77, after the Screaming Eagles tied the game in the latter seconds of the contest.
 
USI is 32-20 in season openers and 37-15 in home openers since the first season in 1975-76.
 
Tickets for Monday and all home games at Liberty Arena can be purchased online at USIScreamingEagles.com or the USI Ticket Office.