University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball concluded the 2017-18 season ranked No. 18 in the USA Today Sports/WBCA Top 25 Coaches’ Poll.
The Screaming Eagles slipped three spots after falling to Lewis University, 72-64, in the first round of the NCAA Division II Midwest Region Tournament.
USI (26-5, 16-2 GLVC) concluded one of its best years in program history as it won the Great Lakes Valley Conference East Division for the second straight year before advancing to the NCAA II Tournament for the 10th time in program history.
The 26 wins in 2017-18 tied for the fourth most wins by a USI women’s basketball team in a single season and were the Eagles’ most since winning 27 games in 2001-02. USI also posted its third-ever perfect record at the Physical Activities Center as it finished 15-0 on its home court.
Head Coach Rick Stein was named the GLVC Coach of the Year for the second straight season and third time in his career, while four Eagles earned All-GLVC honors, including first-team award winners Kaydie Grooms (Marshall, Illinois) and Morgan Dahlstrom (Grayslake, Illinois).
Both Dahlstrom and Grooms were named All-Midwest Region, while Dahlstrom was a third-team Academic All-America honoree. Joining Dahlstrom and Grooms on the All-GLVC list were third-team honorees in Randa Harshbarger (Philo, Illinois) and Kacy Eschweiler (St. Charles, Missouri).
