Eagles Return To PAC
University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball returns to the Physical Activities Center Thursday at 5:15 p.m., when it hosts Maryville University, and Saturday at 1 p.m., when it hosts the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
Thursday’s game is USI’s Heart Awareness Night, sponsored by Deaconess Hospital; while Saturday’s game is Homecoming and the Screaming Eagles’ annual Play4Kay game. USI fans are encouraged to wear red on Thursday and pink on Saturday.
USI (10-11, 3-10 GLVC) enters the week trying to stop a 10-game losing streak, its longest skid since losing 12 straight games during the 1991-92 season. The Eagles have struggled from three-point range in the last 10 games, having shot just 25.0 percent (36-144) from behind the arc. Additionally, opponents are averaging 7.7 made three-pointers per game and have connected on at least nine three-pointers in six of the last 10 games.
Despite the losing streak, the Eagles still find themselves with the opportunity to gain ground in the race for a Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament berth and a first-round home game.
USI is two games behind Rockhurst University, William Jewell College, and McKendree University for the No. 8 seed, which earns a first-round home game.
Junior forward Hannah Wascher (Rantoul, Illinois) leads the Eagles with 14.2 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, while junior guardTanner Marcum (New Albany, Indiana) is contributing 12.3 points and 3.3 assists per contest. Sophomore guard/forward Kaydie Grooms (Marshall, Illinois) is chipping in 11.1 points and 5.5 rebounds per outing.
Standing in the way of the Eagles’ quest for a GLVC Tournament berth and a first-round home game is Maryville and Missouri-St. Louis.
Maryville (10-10, 4-9 GLVC) enters Thursday’s game with the Eagles following a 60-47 victory over McKendree University this past Saturday. Senior center Alex Hillyer had 19 points to lead the Saints, while junior forward Alex Wolf contributed 12 rebounds.
Hillyer is averaging 16.8 points and 7.7 rebounds per game to lead the Saints, while Wolf is contributing 9.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per contest. Sophomore guard Ali Ringering is chipping in 12.8 points per appearance.
USI defeated Maryville, 82-66, a year ago and leads the all-time series, 4-1. The Eagles are 31-10 all-time against Missouri-St. Louis after defeating the Tritons 59-48 during the regular season and 77-65 in the quarterfinals of the GLVC Tournament.
The Tritons (9-12, 4-9 GLVC), who visit Bellarmine University Thursday, are coming off a 61-53 victory over the University of Illinois Springfield and have won two straight games.
Senior forward Kelly Kunkel leads the Tritons with 12.9 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, while sophomore forward/center Jordan Fletcher is adding 10.8 points and a team-best 5.9 rebounds per contest.
