The University of Southern Indiana women’s basketball team opens its 2015-16 home schedule Tuesday at 6 p.m. when it hosts Midway University at the Physical Activities Center.
USI (1-0) is coming off a 77-46 road win over The University of Alabama Huntsville this past Saturday. Junior guard Kendyl Dearing (Huntingburg, Indiana) had 22 points to lead the Screaming Eagles, who posted their largest margin of victory for a season-opening road win in program history.
The Eagles benefitted from a big second quarter that saw them outscore the Chargers, 30-10. USI shot 57.4 percent in the game, including 86.7 percent (13-15) in the second quarter.
Sophomore guard/forward Kaydie Grooms (Marshall, Illinois) added 15 points and eight rebounds to the Eagles’ cause, while junior forwardHannah Wascher (Rantoul, Illinois) added 13 points and nine rebounds in her debut with the Eagles.
USI also got a strong outing from sophomore guard Randa Harshbarger (Philo, Illinois). In her first career start, Harshbarger racked up a career-high seven assists and seven steals. She also had four points and four rebounds.
Midway (0-6) visits the PAC Tuesday having already played six games. The Eagles lost all three games last week, including two to Millagan College (Tennessee). Sophomore forward Courtney Pfister is averaging a team-best 14.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.
Following USI’s game with Midway, the Eagles travel to Ashland, Ohio, to take on No. 16 Ashland University in an early Midwest Region showdown Saturday at 3:30 p.m. (CST). The game was moved from its original start time of Noon due to an NCAA Division II Football Playoff game that Ashland is hosting earlier in the day.
USI is looking for a little payback against Ashland, which ousted the Screaming Eagles from the NCAA II Tournament a year ago.
Ashland is off to a 2-0 start after posting regional wins over Cedarville University and Alderson-Broaddus College. The Eagles also defeated Bowling Green, 59-53, in an exhibition earlier in the month.
Sophomore forward/center Laina Snyder led Ashland with 21.0 points and 10.5 rebounds in its first two games of the regular season.
