Eagles Announce 2016-17 Women’s Hoops Schedule

USI has 28 games on its regular-season slate, which follows its exhibition bout with NCAA Division I Butler University November 6 in Indianapolis.

In addition to an always tough Great Lakes Valley Conference slate, USI will play three NCAA Division II Midwest Region teams during its non-conference schedule as well as games against five more NCAA Division II opponents.

“Our non-conference schedule will definitely give us some different challenges in and out of the Midwest Region,” USI Head Coach Rick Stein said. “I’m excited to play a tough exhibition game against Butler to help us prepare for our regular-season opener as well as going on the road in the beginning of December for our first weekend of GLVC play.”

The Screaming Eagles begin the regular-season November 11 when they host NAIA member Roosevelt University, which is under the direction of former USI point guard Keisha (Collins) Newell.

Counting Roosevelt, the Eagles’ non-conference home schedule includes seven dates, including bouts against NCAA Division II foes The University of Alabama-Huntsville, Kentucky State University, and Ohio Dominican University.

The Eagles host the USI Thanksgiving Classic November 26-27 at the Physical Activities Center. This year’s Classic includes USI and Bellarmine University taking on Young Harris College and Michigan Tech University.

USI’s non-conference schedule is rounded out with a trip to Midwest Region foe Wayne State University (November 17) and the Puerto Rico Classic (December 15-19).

“With the early conference games again this year, the November schedule really puts an emphasis on getting ready for GLVC play,” Stein said. “To have tough regional games like Wayne State and Michigan Tech thrown in before the conference openers, this schedule is challenging and will prepare our team for the tough 18-game league schedule.

“Having Kentucky State, an NCAA II Tournament team from last season, and Ohio Dominican, a 20-win team last year, right before and after the Christmas break, will keep us sharp and focused throughout the holidays as we get ready for the remainder of the GLVC schedule in January and February,” Stein concluded.

The 18-game conference schedule begins December 1 when the Eagles visit GLVC East Division foe McKendree University. USI’s first GLVC home game is January 5 when the Eagles host William Jewell College.

In addition to William Jewell, USI’s GLVC home games include contests against Rockhurst University (January 7), Bellarmine University (January 16), the University of Wisconsin-Parkside (January 19), Lewis University (January 21), Missouri University of Science & Technology (February 2), Drury University (February 4), McKendree (February 16), and the University of Illinois Springfield (February 18).

USI’s contest against Drury February 4 is Homecoming for the Eagles, while Senior Day is February 18 against Illinois Springfield.

In addition to USI’s game at McKendree December 1, the Eagles visit GLVC foes Illinois Springfield (December 3), Bellarmine (February 23), Truman State University (January 12), Quincy University (January 14), Saint Joseph’s College (January 26), the University of Indianapolis (January 28), the University of Missouri-St. Louis (February 9), and Maryville University (February 11).

GLVC Tournament play begins with first-round contests (if necessary) February 26 on campus sites, while the GLVC Tournament quarterfinals, semifinals, and championship are March 3-5 at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana.

The NCAA II Midwest Region Tournament is March 10-13 at a site to be determined, while the NCAA II Elite Eight is March 21-24 at Alumni Hall in Columbus, Ohio.

USI returns 12 players and all five starters from a squad that was 14-13 overall a year ago and 7-11 in GLVC play.

*GLVC Game; Home Games in Bold; #Military Appreciation Day; %Homecoming; $Play4Kay Game; ^Senior Day

Schedule Tidbits

 

*USI enters the 2016-17 season in search of its 10^thNCAA II Tournament appearance and its first since 2015.

*The Screaming Eagles finished in a tie for fourth in the GLVC East Division last season, but lost out on tie-breakers as it had to travel to Saint Joseph’s for the first-round of the GLVC Tournament a year ago.

*USI is 596-512 all-time in its 40-year history and is 289-198 under Rick Stein, who enters his 18^th year as the Head Coach of the Screaming Eagles’ women’s basketball program.

*Including his eight years as an assistant coach at USI, Rick Stein has had a hand in 448 of the program’s 596 victories (75.2 percent of USI’s all-time wins).

*The Eagles return two All-GLVC honorees in 2015-16. Senior forward Hannah Wascher (Rantoul, Illinois) was a second-team honoree, while senior guard Tanner Marcum (New Albany, Indiana) was named to the third team. Wascher led USI with 12.9 points and 7.6 rebounds a year ago, while Marcum averaged 12.0 points and 3.3 assists per game.

*The Eagles are 263-235 all-time against the opposition on in 2016-17 schedule, including 8-12 a year ago.

*Season ticket information for the 2016-17 season can be found at GoUSIEagles.com/tickets.