University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball jumped four spots to No. 14 in the latest Division II Top 25 Media Poll, presented by D2SIDA. The No. 14 ranking is the highest the Screaming Eagles have been in the national poll since they were ranked No. 9 in the Division II Media Poll February 20, 2018.
The Eagles, who are No. 2 in the latest Great Lakes Valley Conference Point Ratings System (PRS) rankings, are one of two GLVC teams in this week’s poll. Drury University is currently No. 1 in the nation as well as the GLVC PRS rankings. Grand Valley State University (No. 5), Ashland University (No. 21) and Cedarville University (No. 22) join USI and Drury in representing the Midwest Region.
USI (6-1, 6-1 GLVC), which has been idle since defeating Truman State University, 83-78 January 3 in Kirksville, Missouri, return to the court Thursday at 5:30 p.m. when it visits GLVC East Division foe Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois, for the first of a two-game road trip. The Eagles also visit the University of Illinois Springfield Saturday at 1 p.m. in Springfield, Illinois.
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 (1/19/21)
• PPD. USI Women’s Basketball has had its last three games postponed due to COVID-19 concerns. All three games have since been rescheduled.
• Busy stretch coming up. Due to the previous postponements and all of the rescheduling, the Eagles will have a busy stretch of games coming up. Beginning with Thursday’s visit to Lewis, the Eagles are slated to play eight games throughout a 17-day stretch.
• GLVC Point Ratings System. USI begins the week ranked No. 2 in the GLVC Point Rating System (PRS), which determines the eight teams that will compete in the GLVC Tournament in March. The Eagles, who have a 4.43 rating, trail No. 1 Drury (4.69) and are in front of No. 3 Truman State (4.33), No. 4 Lewis (3.71) and No. 5 Missouri-St. Louis (3.60). Rockhurst (3.42), Lindenwood (3.29) and Illinois Springfield (3.25) round out the top eight teams.
• USI ranked No. 14. The Eagles are ranked No. 14 in the latest D2SIDA Top 25 Media Poll after debuting in the national rankings last week at No. 18. The WBCA Top 25 is set to debut at an unspecified date in January. This week’s ranking is the highest for the Eagles since they were ranked No. 9 in Division II Media Poll February 20, 2018.
• Eagles rally past Truman. USI from a 19-point first-quarter deficit and a 13-point fourth-quarter hole to defeat host Truman State, 83-78, Sunday afternoon. USI used a 15-0 fourth-quarter run and held the Bulldogs to just one point throughout the final six minutes to secure the victory. Junior forward Ashlynn Brown had a career-high 17 points to lead the Eagles, while senior guard Emma DeHart and freshman forward Meredith Raley each finished with 13. Sophomore guard Addy Blackwell added 11 points off the bench for the Eagles, who saw their reserves outscore Truman’s bench 38-9.
• Wild first half. After giving up a season-high 30 points in the first quarter against Truman, the Eagles responded with a 30-point second quarter, the most in a single period for the Eagles since they scored 31 in a 90-71 victory over Missouri S&T January 18, 2018.
• Turnovers. USI took excellent care of the ball in its win over Truman, committing just two turnovers in the contest. The two turnovers are the lowest total of offensive miscues under Head Coach Rick Stein and are believed to be the lowest turnover total in program history.
• Downtown. The Eagles connected on 11-of-25 three-point attempts in their win over Truman, an uncharacteristic total in both makes and attempts for the Eagles. The 25 attempts from behind the arc are the most by USI Women’s Basketball since they put up 25 three-point attempts in a win over Lake Erie November 24, 2018; while the 11 makes were the most since draining 11 three-pointers in a win over Illinois Springfield February 16, 2017. Even more out of character was the fact that five of the three-pointers against Truman came from the hands of USI post players.
• Season leaders. DeHart leads USI with 16.9 points and 3.4 assists per game, while Haithcock is averaging 9.7 points and a team-high 7.2 rebounds per contest. Sophomore guard Addy Blackwell is contributing 9.3 points per outing, while senior guard Ashley Hunter is adding 8.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and a team-high 2.0 steals per appearance.
• 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 nine 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 Lewis. After going into the holiday break with a 3-3 mark, the Flyers have gone 5-1 to up their record to 8-4 on the year. Freshman forward Kathryn Schmidt averages 14.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game to lead the Flyers, while freshman guard Jenna Badali is chipping in 12.2 points as well as a team-high 3.8 assists and 3.2 steals per game.
• Last meeting. USI rallied from a nine-point third-quarter deficit to defeat the Flyers, 63-52, at Screaming Eagles Arena in December. The Eagles held the Flyers to just 2-of-20 (.100) shooting, 1-of-13 (.077) from downtown, as they outscored Lewis 31-11 throughout the final 16 minutes of the contest to earn the victory. DeHart had 14 points and four assists to lead the Eagles, who held Lewis without a field goal for the final nine minutes of the game.
• About UIS. The Prairie Stars, who host Indianapolis Tuesday and McKendree Thursday, begin the week with a 4-4 record after losing three of their previous four games. Sophomore guard Malea Jackson is averaging 15.1 points per game to lead the Stars, while junior guard Lauren Ladowski is chipping in 14.8 points per contest.
• Last meeting. USI outscored the Stars 20-4 throughout the first 15 minutes of the first half and led 40-13 two minutes into the third quarter en route to a 63-49 win at Screaming Eagles Arena in December. Senior center Audrey Turner had a career-high tying 13 points in her first-career start for the Eagles, who held UIS to just 6-of-33 (.181) shooting throughout the first 22 minutes of the game. Jackson and Ladowski had 20 and 16 points, respectively, for the Stars, who outscored the Eagles, 36-23, throughout the final 18 minutes of the contest.
• Record book watch. The Eagles have one player making moves inside the USI Women’s Basketball Record Books:
–Emma DeHart has jumped 11 spots to No. 32 all-time at USI with 766 career points. She began the year ranked No. 43 but has made the big jump during the first six games of the year thanks to a strong start. DeHart is 14 points away from matching USI Hall of Fame guard Adrienne Seitz for 30th.
• Magic Mark: 75 points. The Eagles are 421-77 (.845) all-time when scoring at least 75 points. USI is 294-28 (.913) since 1996-97 when reaching the 75-point plateau.
