Aces women’s basketball earns back-to-back MVC wins

The Purple Aces had their first consecutive Missouri Valley Conference wins since the 2016-2017 season on Thursday night

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – For the first time in seven years, the University of Evansville women’s basketball team earned two straight MVC wins on Thursday evening.

A career night for guards Lexie Sinclair and Tené Smith highlighted the overtime win for the Aces over Southern Illinois. UE pulled away early in the extra frame to earn the 93-89 win, outscoring the Salukis 10 to six over five minutes. It was also Evansville’s best offensive game, going 30-56 from the floor for 53.6% and 8-15 from three-point range for 53.3%.

“It feels awesome to get back-to-back MVC wins,” said Head Coach Robyn Scherr-Wells following the game. “It was one of the first things I thought of after the game, it’s a good milestone in our building of the program. We’re pretty pumped about it.

“We also took good shots today with good looks. Lexie made our first three out of the gate. And when you make the first couple you gain some confidence. Overall, without getting too three happy, we continued to take good shots throughout the game.”

It was a slow start for UE as Southern Illinois broke out to a six-point run. Forward Maggie Hartwig was able to turn things around, adding Evansville’s first four points to break up the run. Midway through the quarter the two teams went shot for shot until the break with under four minutes on the clock. Out of the timeout, the Aces tied the game at 13 as guard Tene Smith hit a bucket following a Saluki turnover. But a layup right after Smith’s spurred a six-point SIU run to put UE behind. In the final minute of the quarter, Evansville was able to find its offense again as Hartwig hit a three-point buzzer-beater to tie the game at 20 all.

Hartwig wasn’t done behind the arc there as she made another trey to give the Aces their first lead of the game. The lead changed hands nine times in the second quarter as UE evenly matched the Salukis. It was Evansville’s play behind the arc that gave the team the upper hand, shooting a blistering 80% in the second quarter. Every time SIU took the lead back, the Aces found a three to either tie or regain the lead. A seven-to-three run in the final two minutes of the first half had UE on top 45-42 going into the second half.

The Salukis made the first basket of the second half, but a three-point play for Hartwig kept Evansville on top for the first two minutes. The game was tied twice by SIU but fouls drawn from the Aces kept them ahead through the first four minutes. The lead changed ten more times through the third quarter as neither team had more than a one-point lead. With UE in the for the final four minutes, shots at the line kept Evansville close. The Aces headed into the fourth quarter with the lead as guard Kynidi Mason Striverson made her first field goal of the night with 46 seconds left.

UE kept its strong night behind the arc going as guard Julia Palomo hit an early three to give Evansville a four-point lead.  The Salukis got a bucket at the line just moments after. But the Aces broke out on a five-point run for their largest lead of the game up by eight. SIU responded with a three-point play, but Smith answered with a three behind the line to regain the eight-point lead. The Salukis top player, Laniah Randle made seven straight points to get the game down to only three.  UE was able to keep answering Randle from the floor. But SIU tied the game on a three with two minutes left on the clock, shortly taking the lead right after at the line. Evansville was able to answer in the final 30 seconds, tying the game up to go into the teams second overtime game of the season.

The Aces offense was firing early in overtime, scoring eight points in the first three minutes. UE particularly benefited from drawing fouls while in the bonus, making all six of its free throws in overtime. The Salukis made the last two shots of the game, but Evansville grew its lead far enough early in the extra period to stay on top. The Aces earned their second straight Valley win in the 93-89 victory.

 Four UE players ended the game in double figures with Hartwig leading the way at 22 points. She also led Evansville in rebounds with 12 for her fifth double-double of the season. Sinclair was right behind Hartwig with a career-high 20 points and a career-high six assists. Forward Neveah Thomas pushed her double-figure scoring streak to ten games with 17 points in 31 minutes while Smith had a career-high 16 points.

The Aces will have one day off before their next game on Saturday, Feb. 17. UE will host the Missouri State Lady Bears for its annual Play For Kay game, to support breast cancer awareness. Tip-off for Saturday’s game is set for 2 p.m. from Meeks Family Fieldhouse.