University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball begins a four-game road trip Sunday when it visits the University of Indianapolis for a noon (CST) tip-off at Nicoson Hall.
Following their bout with the Greyhounds, the Screaming Eagles will have some time off during the holiday break before resuming their trip with three straight road games to begin the calendar year.
How to Watch
While fans are not permitted to attend the games, they can watch free of charge on the GLVC Sports Network, which is available both you’re your desktop, mobile/tablet devices, as well as four over-the-top (OTT) platforms, including Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV and Apple TV (4th Generation). GLVCSN.com is the official website of the GLVC Sports Network, while the GLVCSN mobile app is available for iOS in the App Store and Android on Google Play. Apple users also can use AirPlay with their Apple TV or some of the newer smart TVs. (GLVCSN FAQs)
Other ways to follow the action
USI’s games will be carried on the airwaves at 95.7 The Spin as well as online at 957thespin.com. Links to both the online audio as well as live stats can be found at GoUSIEagles.com. Updates also will be provided on USI’s social media platforms (@USIAthletics), particularly Twitter.
USI Women’s Basketball Notes (12/16)
• Schedule change. The USI-Quincy basketball doubleheader that was originally scheduled for January 6 is being moved up a day to January 5 due to travel concerns.
• Defense clamps down in latest win. After McKendree made eight of its first 11 shots, USI Women’s Basketball clamped down on the defensive end and held the visiting Bearcats to just 12-of-39 (.308) shooting throughout the final 32 minutes as the Eagles rallied from a 10-point first-quarter deficit to defeat McKendree, 73-48. Senior guard Emma DeHart scored a career-high 28 points to pace the Eagles, who shot 52.6 percent (30-57) from the field. Sophomore guard Soffia Rieckers scored a career-high 13 points in her first career collegiate start, while senior guard Ashley Hunter and freshman forward Meredith Raley added 11 and 10 points, respectively.
• Season leaders. DeHart leads USI with 18.6 points and 3.4 assists per game, while sophomore guard Addy Blackwell is chipping in 11.3 points and 3.3 assists per contest. Haithcock is contributing 8.8 points and 8.0 rebounds per appearance, while Blackwell is averaging a team-high 2.3 steals per contest. Hunter, who is averaging 8.8 points per game, also is contributing 2.2 steals per outing.
• Historic start. The Eagles have not allowed an opponent to score more than 55 points in a single game throughout their first five games of the year. It is just the second time in program history and the first since 2016-17 that the Eagles have held their first five opponents to less than 60 points. USI currently ranks among the top 10 in the nation in both scoring defense (51.8 ppg) and opponent field goal percentage (.329).
• 5-0. The Eagles are 5-0 to start the year for first time since beginning the 2017-18 season with a 9-0 mark. This also marks the first time since 2016-17 that USI has started GLVC play with five straight wins—the Eagles went 6-0 in GLVC play before suffering their first conference loss to Bellarmine in 2016-17.
• Eagles closing strong. USI has outscored its opposition in the fourth quarter by an average of 18.4 to 11.2 throughout its first five games. In three of those contests, the Eagles have not allowed their opponent to score more than eight points in the final period. USI has been outscored in the fourth quarter only once this season.
• Eagles set to begin four-game road trip. USI gets to find out what life on the road is like for the first time this season it visits Indianapolis Sunday. After playing their first five games at Screaming Eagles Arena, the Eagles will be on the road for their next four, including three in a six-day span that sees them make stops at Truman State, Quincy and McKendree. The upcoming stretch is the longest streak of road games this season for USI, which also has a three-game road trip in February.
• USI ranks among Division II’s best in several categories. The Eagles enter the week ranked in the top 10 of eight different NCAA statistical categories. USI, one of 22 undefeated teams, is second in the nation in free throw attempts (133) and is third, nationally, in free throws made (91). USI ranks sixth in the nation in both scoring defense (51.8 ppg) and field goal percentage defense (.329); is seventh in both scoring margin (+18.0) and steals (48); and is eighth in blocked shots (20).
• Roaring 20s. Senior guard Emma DeHart has reached the 20-point plateau three times this year after entering the year with one career 20-point game. USI had five different players reach the 20-point plateau a year ago, including DeHart and sophomore forwards Tara Robbe and Hannah Haithcock.
• Double-figures. USI has already had eight different players reach double-figures in the scoring column this year after having nine players reach double-figures a year ago. Eight of those players had multiple games with at least 10 points, while USI has already had five players with multiple double-digit games in 2020-21.
• About UIndy. Senior guard Taylor Drury averages 12.3 points per game to lead the Greyhounds, who are 1-3 overall and 1-3 in GLVC play after going 19-10 overall and 12-8 in GLVC play a year ago. Sophomore forward Lauren With and senior guard Mickey Sasson are respectively chipping in 11.0 and 10.8 points per game for UIndy, which visits Quincy Wednesday evening. Sasson averages a team-high 5.3 assists per game, while junior guard/forward Sadie Hill is posting a team-high 6.5 rebounds per appearance.
• Last year (round 1). USI erased a pair of double-digit deficits to defeat host UIndy, 75-64, last year at Nicoson Hall. Ashley Johnson (20 points) and Emma DeHartcombined for 39 points as the Eagles rallied 23-13 and 43-32 to earn the win. Laura Thomas had 15 points to lead the Greyhounds.
• Last year (round 2). Tara Robbe had a career-high 21 points and Emma DeHart came off the bench to score 15 as the Eagles rolled past the Greyhounds, 81-64, last year at Screaming Eagles Arena. USI outscored UIndy 29-14 in the third quarter to turn a five-point halftime advantage into a comfortable 20-point lead heading into the final period of play.
• Record book watch. The Eagles have one player making moves inside the USI Women’s Basketball Record Books:
–Emma DeHart has jumped 10 spots to No. 33 all-time at USI with 741 career points. She began the year ranked No. 43 but has made the big jump during the first five games of the year thanks to a strong start. DeHart needs just 10 points to tie Jasmine Moore for 32nd all-time and is 39 points away from matching USI Hall of Fame guard Adrienne Seitz for 30th.
