EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women's Basketball returns to Liberty Arena this week when the Screaming Eagles get set to host Tennessee State University on Thursday at 5 p.m. and Tennessee Tech University on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Ohio Valley Conference play for the Screaming Eagles' final regular-season homestand.
 
Thursday's game can be seen with a subscription to ESPN+, while Saturday's game will be aired nationally on ESPNU. USI Women's Basketball will be featured on ESPNU's national linear platform for the second season in a row. Last season, the Screaming Eagles' road matchup at Lindenwood University was broadcast on ESPNU. Both games this week can be heard on The Spin 95.7 FM and WREF 97.7 FM.
 
Thursday's game is Ascension Heart Health Night, featuring Ascension personnel providing free blood pressure readings and distributing informational materials in the Liberty Arena lobby. Thursday is also the USI Women's Basketball Play4Kay game.
 
Saturday's contest is Senior Day, as USI Women's Basketball will recognize senior guard Ali Saunders and Sarang West. Fans are also encouraged to wear red and help red out Liberty Arena for the nationally televised game on ESPNU. Fans should also arrive early to receive the final Penn Station coupon giveaway of the season.
 
USI heads into the homestand with a 16-7 overall record and a 10-4 record in Ohio Valley Conference play. Entering Thursday's slate, the Screaming Eagles are in a three-way tie for second in the OVC standings. USI sits a game and a half back of first-place Western Illinois University.
 
The Screaming Eagles have already clinched a third consecutive Ohio Valley Conference Championship Tournament berth following a big 90-57 road victory last Saturday at Southeast Missouri State University. USI pulled away with a big run in the first quarter against the Redhawks and never looked back. USI shot a season-best 53 percent overall and a season-best 58 percent from three-point range, knocking down a season-high 11 three-pointers.
 
The 11 made three-pointers at SEMO marked the first time this season that USI made 10-plus triples in a game. Even though USI reached double digits in three-pointers made in a pair of games last season, the 11 made threes at SEMO this season marked the first time USI had made more than 10 treys in a contest since the 2021-22 season.
 
Individually, Saunders paced the Eagles in last Saturday's road win at Southeast Missouri with 19 points. Saunders has led USI in scoring in 10 of the 14 OVC games. Junior forward Chloe Gannon tallied 16 points for her 12^th double-digit outing in the last 14 games. Fellow junior forward Amiyah Buchanan posted her second double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds against her former club.
 
Saunders continues to pace the team in scoring at 17.6 points per game, which is second in the OVC. Saunders is also top three in the OVC with 4.1 assists per game. Gannon is second on the squad with 12.8 points per contest, and junior guard Sophia Loden is third at 10.7 points per game. As a team, USI is averaging 70.3 points and only allowing 57.1 points per game, still ranking first in the conference.
 
Tennessee State (4-19, 3-11 OVC) is still seeking its first road win of the season, as the Tigers are 0-11 on the road this season. Last time out, Tennessee State snapped a six-game losing streak with an 87-77 home win against first-place Western Illinois, earning a split last week after falling 65-60 against Eastern Illinois University.
 
Senior guard Aaniya Webb tops the Tigers squad in scoring with 11.5 points per game. Sophomore guard Xai Whitfield is just below averaging 10 points with 9.3 points per contest. The Tigers are averaging 59.2 points offensively and surrendering 75.4 points per game on the defensive end.
 
USI leads the all-time series against Tennessee State, 5-3, and has won two in a row in the series. The Screaming Eagles won 72-67 at Tennessee State on January 17, with Saunders leading the team with 29 points. USI also defeated the Tigers in the first round of last year's OVC Tournament.
 
Tennessee Tech (13-10, 6-8 OVC) has won three of its last four contests following a seven-game losing skid. The Golden Eagles split last week's pairing by earning a 75-70 win against Eastern Illinois after a 68-53 setback against Western Illinois.
 
Three Golden Eagles are averaging 10 or more per game entering the week. Sophomore guard Chloe Larry tops the squad at 14.1 points per game, with senior guard Reghan Grimes not far behind at 13.6 points per outing. Graduate guard Reagan Hurst is third on the team with 11.6 points per game. Collectively, Tennessee Tech averages 67 points while holding opponents to 62.6 points per game.
 
Tennessee Tech has an edge on USI in the all-time history between the two programs, 5-3. However, the Screaming Eagles bested the Golden Eagles earlier this season at Tennessee Tech on January 15, winning 71-69 in overtime, to snap a three-game losing streak against the Golden Eagles. Saunders led USI in that game with 23 points.
 
Tickets for all home games at Liberty Arena can be purchased online at usiscreamingeagles.com or the USI Ticket Office.