University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball announced its 2017-18 schedule Monday and that it will open its slate November 5 when it travels to Lexington, Kentucky, to take on Division I foe Kentucky in an exhibition contest.
The Screaming Eagles begin the regular season November 10 and 12 when they host Northwood University and Saginaw Valley State University, respectively, in the Great Lakes Valley Conference/Great Lakes Intercollegiate Conference Challenge.
USI’s schedule in 2017-18 features a heavy dose of Midwest Region opponents, particularly GLIAC teams. The Eagles also host GLIAC foe Wayne State University November 18 before traveling to Louisville, Kentucky, to take on GLIAC schools Grand Valley State University and Northern Michigan University in the Bellarmine Classic November 25-26.
A bout with former GLIAC and new Great Midwest Athletic Conference member Ohio Dominican University November 16 is included in the Eagles’ season-long four-game homestand to begin the year.
USI’s non-conference slate includes home games against NAIA opponents Harris-Stowe State University (December 16) and Grace College (December 31) and a road game at NCAA II Southeast Region finalist Lincoln Memorial University (December 19).
“We are excited about this year’s non-conference schedule,” Head Coach Rick Stein said. “These nine non-conference opponents combined to average just under 19 wins last season. To have seven strong in-region games, which includes three NCAA (Tournament) teams, is exactly what we’re trying to accomplish with this year’s schedule.”
A revamped conference schedule begins with a home game against GLVC East Division foe Lewis University November 30 and a road game at in-state and East Division rival University of Indianapolis December 2.
Due to the closure of Saint Joseph’s College, the GLVC now features three five-team divisions in 2017-18, including the East, West and Central Divisions.
USI plays a home-and-home series with each of the GLVC East Division institutions and plays one game against each team from the Central and West Divisions. In addition to USI, Indianapolis and Lewis, the East Division also is comprised of Bellarmine University and the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.
The GLVC Central Division includes the University of Illinois Springfield, Maryville University, McKendree University, the University of Missouri-St. Louis and Quincy University; while Drury University, Missouri S&T, Rockhurst University, Truman State University and William Jewell College make up the West Division.
After a month-long hiatus from GLVC play, USI resumes league action January 4 when it hosts Missouri-St. Louis at the PAC. The Eagles also play home games against Indianapolis (January 11), Missouri S&T (January 18), Truman State (January 20), UW-Parkside (January 25), Maryville (February 1), Quincy (February 3) and Bellarmine (February 10).
USI’s Play4Kay game is slated for February 1, while Homecoming is February 3 and Senior Night is February 10.
In addition to its trip to Indianapolis in December, USI plays conference road games against Drury (January 6), Bellarmine (January 15), McKendree (January 27), Illinois Springfield (February 8), William Jewell (February 15), Rockhurst (February 17), UW-Parkside (February 22) and Lewis (February 24).
The GLVC Tournament features eight teams this year and is scheduled for March 1-4 in Edwardsville, Illinois, while the NCAA II Midwest Region Tournament is March 9-12. The NCAA II Elite Eight is March 20-23 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Not including USI’s exhibition at Kentucky, USI’s opponents posted a 454-341 (.571) overall record in 2016-17. Six opponents on USI’s regular-season slate advanced to the NCAA II Tournament a year ago, while 17 of the Eagles’ opponents made their respective conference tournaments last season.
USI posted a 24-5 overall record and was 16-2 in GLVC play a year ago. The Eagles won the GLVC East Division by three games last season, but a quarterfinal loss in the GLVC Tournament prevented the Eagles from advancing to the NCAA II Tournament.
