The Purple Aces will look for their first back-to-back wins of the season on Wednesday night
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EVANSVILLE, Ind. — After picking up its first win of the season, the University of Evansville women’s basketball team returns home looking to start a winning streak.
Evansville gritted out its first win of the season after three overtimes, putting up 103 points against Chicago State. It was the first time the Purple Aces had put up 103 points or more since scoring 108 points against NAIA Oakland City in 2016. The last Division I opponent that UE scored over 100 points on came in December of 2004 in a 104 to 77 win against Ohio University in Athens.
On the subject of overtime, Sunday’s game was the longest in program history since a triple-overtime game against crosstown foe Southern Indiana during the 1986-87 season. UE outscored their former longest performance by 10 points for their second-highest-scoring overtime game. Evansville also set a program record for the most rebounds in a game pulling down 70 boards against the Cougars, just above the previous record of 67 at Creighton on March 5, 2005.
Bellarmine comes into Wednesday’s game looking for its first win of the season. The Knights are currently 0-4 on the year after games against San Jose State, No. 4 UCLA, No. 19 Louisville, and fellow MVC team Murray State. Looking at the roster, junior guard Hayley Harrison is averaging a team-high 14.3 points while senior guard Claire Knies is just under double figures at 9.5 points per game. Sophomore forward Paetynn Gray is fresh off an 11-point game and is the team’s leading rebounder (4.3), while junior guard Hope Sivori is averaging a team-best 3.8 assists.
Freshman forward Maggie Hartwig was named the MVC Freshman of the Week on Monday afternoon by the league office. Hartwig earned the honor after having her second double-double of the season against Chicago State. Hartwig scored 18 points while pulling down 15 rebounds and going a perfect eight of eight from the free throw line.
