Icy offensive first half sinks Aces at Missouri State
The Purple Aces forwards combined for 38 of the team’s 58 points
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The University of Evansville women’s basketball team couldn’t find its rhythm in a 90-55 loss to the Missouri State Lady Bears.
The Purple Aces freshman forwards led the offense in their first visit to Springfield. Maggie Hartwig had a team-high 23 points while Nevaeh Thomas added 12 for Evansville’s only double-digit scorers. UE struggled early in Missouri with its lowest-scoring first half but rebounded in the second with 39 points.
Evansville’s offense struggled to get going early at Great Southern Bank Arena. The Aces’ first basket came shortly after the five-minute mark as Thomas made two free throws. The freshman forward had all six of UE’s first-quarter points while shooting 66% from the floor. After only 10 minutes Evansville faced a 16-point deficit in their second lowest-scoring quarter.
The Aces fared better in the second quarter by getting into double-digits early. UE’s offense ran through the post as Thomas and Hartwig combined for six of Evansville’s 10 points in the second frame. Guard Kynidi Mason Striverson grabbed the last bucket of the first half for the Aces to make it a 43-16 game after 20 minutes.
UE had a faster start to the second half, going point for point with the Lady Bears in the first three minutes. The hot early stretch included Evansville’s first three of the game from Hartwig. The Aces cut into Missouri State’s offensive pace throughout the third, including a brief five-point run halfway through. Hartwig made an open three with nine seconds left on the clock to make it 69-37. But a last-second foul had UE down by 33 going into the final 10 minutes.
 It was a back-and-forth game in the last quarter as both teams focused on playing their benches. The Lady Bears had a nine-point run with six minutes on the clock to end the matching shots. Guard Alana Striverson ended the run with a wide-open three, spurring a 10-4 stretch. The Aces ended the game with four straight points in the 90-55 defeat.
While forwards led UE on offense, it was an even game on defense as Thomas and forward Tameshia Dozier collected six boards. Guard Julia Palomo had a team-high two steals while freshman guard Sydney Bradley recorded her first collegiate blocks with two against Missouri State.
Evansville remains on the road with a Sunday afternoon game in Carbondale, Ill. The Aces will take on the Salukis at the Banterra Center at 2 p.m. on Jan. 21.
