The Purple Aces led for over 25 minutes in their first conference win
VALPARAISO, Ind. – Using its experience in late-game situations, the University of Evansville women’s basketball team came away with a 71-68 win in Valparaiso against the Beacons.
The Purple Aces dominated in the paint on Sunday afternoon, a key factor in earning their first MVC win of the season. Freshman forward Nevaeh Thomas added another double-double to her resume leading UE with 23 points, coming one shy of her career high with 14 rebounds. Sophomore Kynidi Mason Striverson and forward Maggie Hartwig also had double-digit games.
Hartwig hit a three to start the game and set the tone for a fast-paced battle in Valparaiso. The Aces were able to use consistent offensive pressure to keep the lead for all but 30 seconds over the first 10 minutes. UE was helped by early fouls from the Beacons, going to the line on four separate occasions and making all but one shot. Evansville ended the quarter with two at the stripe from Thomas to hold a 14-10 lead going into the second quarter.
The Aces kept up their breakneck offense with a four-point run to take their largest lead of the game ahead by eight. Valpo responded quickly but an and-1 opportunity from Thomas put UE back ahead by seven. Thomas kept Evansville in the lead for the next minute and a half. But at the halfway point of the quarter, the Beacons had their first lead. It turned into a back-and-forth affair heading into the second half until the final minute. The Aces made back-to-back layups to end the first half with a three-point lead.
It was a slow start to the second half for UE as its first basket took over two minutes to make. Valparaiso took the lead back for the first half of the quarter as Evansville struggled to finish its shots. But a three-pointer from guard Julia Palomo spurred a seven-point run for the Aces to grab a five-point lead. The Beacons responded in kind, making it just a one-point lead. A trey from Tené Smith gave UE a four-point lead which they held onto until the final minute. Valpo ended the third on a six-point run putting Evansville back by two.
The Aces tied the game back up in the fourth at the line after both teams struggled to make shots in the first minute and a half. The Beacons hit a layup to take the lead back, but a successful three-point play for Hartwig gave UE a slim one-point lead. Guard Lexie Sinclair had an and-1 opportunity of her own right after, putting Evansville back up by four with 6:05 remaining.
It was back-and-forth free throw opportunities over the next two minutes as neither team made a field goal. Thomas broke the pattern with a layup to give the Aces another four-point lead. The game quickly went back to free throws as another field goal wasn’t made until the 1:47 mark. Valpo was able to tie the game up with back-to-back free throw opportunities, making all four. But UE was able to close out the game with second-chance layups from Hartwig and Thomas. Sinclair sealed the win for Evansville with a steal in the final 10 seconds while making one of two free throws after drawing a foul on the steal for the 71-68 final score.
Thomas led the Aces on both sides of the ball with 23 points, 14 rebounds, and a career-high 3 blocks. Mason Striverson added 16 points and five assists while Hartwig had 10 points along with nine rebounds.  Guard Madlena Gerke also added a season-high three steals against in UE’s win against the Beacons.
Evansville returns home to Meeks Family Fieldhouse for two games next week. The Aces will first welcome Southern Illinois to town on Thursday, Feb. 15. Tip-off against the Salukis is set for 6 p.m.
