 EVANSVILLE, Ind.—University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball returns to action Thursday at 6 p.m. (CST) when it travels to Detroit, Michigan, to take on Midwest Region foe Wayne State University. The Screaming Eagles also host NAIA opponent Hannibal-LaGrange University Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Physical Activities Center.
Both games can be listened to on WSWI 97.5 FM, while live stats, audio, video and GLVC Sports Network coverage (Sunday) can be accessed at GoUSIEagles.com.
USI (1-0) is coming off a 108-55 victory over Roosevelt University in its season-opener last Friday. Five Eagles scored in double-figures, with three more players recording at least seven points.
Junior guard/forward Kaydie Grooms (Marshall, Illinois) had 21 points, three assists and three steals to lead the Eagles, while senior forward Hannah Wascher (Rantoul, Illinois) contributed 19 points and a team-best eight rebounds.
USI also got 12 points from sophomore center Kacy Eschweiler (St. Charles, Missouri), while junior forward Morgan Dahlstrom (Grayslake, Illinois) added 11 points. Senior guard Tanner Marcum (New Albany, Indiana) rounded out the Eagles’ double-figure scorers with 10 points and a team-best four assists.
Wayne State (0-2) is coming off a 79-76 setback to No. 9 Bellarmine University after opening the year with a 78-73 loss to Ursuline University, a team receiving votes outside the WBCA Top 25 Coaches’ Poll. Junior guard Shannon Wilson leads the Warriors with 16.5 points per game, while senior forward Christina Green is averaging 10.0 points and a team-best 10.0 rebounds per game.
Hannibal-LaGrange (0-4) is coming off a 99-52 exhibition setback to Southeast Missouri State University Monday night. The Trojans, who are counting Sunday’s game as an exhibition, host Greenville College and the St. Louis College of Pharmacy; then visit Stephens College before taking on USI Sunday. Senior guard Sarah Clines leads the Trojans through four games with 19.0 points per game.
Following this week’s slate, USI hosts the University of Alabama-Huntsville November 22 as well as the USI Thanksgiving Classic November 26-27—the Thanksgiving Classic features USI, Bellarmine, Michigan Tech University, and Young Harris College.
USI Women’s Basketball Notes
Eagles crack century mark in regular-season opener. USI Women’s Basketball reached the century mark for the first time since February 1, 2014 in its 108-55 season-opening win over Roosevelt. The 108 points were the most the Screaming Eagles have scored in a regular-season opener in program history, surpassing the former record of 97, set in USI’s 2000-01 opener against Indiana Tech.
Forcing the issue. USI forced Roosevelt into 30 turnovers in its regular-season opener. It was the most turnovers the Eagles’ defense has created since forcing Harris-Stowe into 34 turnovers November 29, 2014. The Eagles turned Roosevelt’s miscues into 40 points.
Five double-figure scorers. Five USI Women’s Basketball players reached double-figures in the scoring column in USI’s win over Roosevelt, marking the most players to reach double-digits since January 10, 2015, when five players reached double-figures in USI’s win over Missouri S&T. The Eagles had two more players with nine points and another with seven in USI’s win over Roosevelt, coming dangerously close to surpassing the program record of seven double-digit scorers.
USI vs. GLIAC. USI’s visit to Wayne State is USI’s first bout versus a GLIAC opponent this year and the first since defeating Ferris State 66-48 December 20, 2015. The Eagles went 2-1 versus the GLIAC last year.
GLVC vs. Midwest Region. With three conferences in the Midwest Region, the battle between conferences plays an important part in determining post-season bids to the NCAA II Midwest Region Tournament. The GLVC went 8-10 against the GLIAC in the opening weekend of play and was 3-1 versus the GMAC.
Closing in on 600. USI is just three wins shy of its 600th win in program history. The Eagles are 597-512 (.538) during their 41-year history.
Scouting the opposition (Wayne State). The Warriors are 0-2 to open the 2016-17 season. Junior guard Shannon Wilson leads WSU with 16.5 points per game, while senior forward Christina Green is averaging 10.0 points and a team-best 10.0 rebounds per game.
Scouting the opposition (Hannibal-LaGrange). HLC begins the week with an 0-4 mark. The Trojans host Greenville, St. Louis-Pharmacy, and visit Stephens before playing USI Sunday. Sunday’s game is an exhibition for the Trojans, who are led by senior guard Sarah Cline’s 19.0 points per game.
