University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball is ranked No. 23 in the first Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Association (WBCA) Top 25 Coaches’ Poll, which was released Tuesday.

The Screaming Eagles (10-3, 10-3 GLVC) are receiving votes in the D2SIDA Top 25 Media Poll after plummeting from No. 11 all the way out of the ranking following their loss to Truman State University last Saturday.

USI will attempt to stop a two-game slide Thursday at 6:30 p.m. when it visits William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri. The Eagles also visit Rockhurst University Saturday at 2 p.m.

How to Watch
While fans are not permitted to attend the games, they can watch free of charge on the GLVC Sports Network, which is available both your desktop, mobile/tablet devices, as well as four over-the-top (OTT) platforms, including Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV and Apple TV (4th Generation). GLVCSN.com is the official website of the GLVC Sports Network, while the GLVCSN mobile app is available for iOS in the App Store and Android on Google Play. Apple users also can use AirPlay with their Apple TV or some of the newer smart TVs. (GLVCSN FAQs)

Other ways to follow the action
USI’s games will be carried on the airwaves at 95.7 The Spin as well as online at 957thespin.com. Links to both the online audio as well as live stats can be found at GoUSIEagles.com. Updates also will be provided on USI’s social media platforms (@USIAthletics), particularly Twitter.

USI Women’s Basketball Notes (2/3/21)
• Schedule changes. USI Women’s Basketball’s game at William Jewell Thursday has been moved to a 6:30 p.m. start due to the men’s game at Jewell being moved to Friday. Additionally, USI’s game at Rockhurst Saturday has been changed to a 2 p.m. start, while USI’s game at McKendree February 22 has been scheduled for a 1 p.m. tip-off time.

• Eagles start week with loss to Quincy. USI suffered a 69-61 road loss to Quincy Tuesday evening to begin another busy week. The Eagles were whistled for 26 fouls, allowing the host Hawks to go 26-of-33 at the free throw line. Senior forward Hannah Haithcock had 13 points and nine rebounds to lead the Eagles, while senior guard Emma DeHart finished with 12 points and five assists.

• House of horrors. Quincy’s Pepsi Arena continues to be a thorn in USI’s side. The Eagles are just 1-14 since 2000 in Pepsi Arena, including a loss to Lake Superior State in the 2004 NCAA II Regional Tournament.

• Last week. USI had home wins over Indianapolis (56-51) and Quincy (62-50), but fell to Truman State, 73-67, to end the week. Haithcock averaged 16.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game to lead the Eagles, while DeHart chipped in 16.3 points and 3.0 assists per game.

• Two-game slide. USI’s loss to Quincy marked the first two-game slide of the year for the Eagles, who have had a pair of five-game win streaks.

• Troubling trend. In the last two games, the Eagles have been charged with a combined 53 fouls, which has allowed the opposition to go a combined 47-70 at the charity stripe. USI, meanwhile, has drawn just 25 fouls during that stretch, going just 15-of-22 from the free throw line.

• Everyone played significant minutes. With USI playing eight games in a 17-day span, Head Coach Rick Stein is trying to keep his squad fresh. The Eagles played all 11 players in uniform against Quincy, with all players seeing at least seven minutes of work.

• USI in national poll. The Eagles fell out of the D2SIDA Top 25 Media Poll Tuesday afternoon as they were receiving votes outside the Top 25. However, the WBCA Top 25 Coaches’ Poll debuted Tuesday, with the Eagles receiving a ranking of No. 23.

• GLVC Point Ratings System. The Eagles remained No. 3 in the latest GLVC Point Ratings System (PRS) ranking, which determines the eight teams that will compete in the GLVC Tournament in March. The Eagles did lose ground with their rating, which dipped to 3.88 after Tuesday’s loss. USI trails Truman State (4.42) and Drury (4.32). Lewis (3.50) and Rockhurst (3.46) round out the top five, while Lindenwood (3.45), Missouri-St. Louis (3.27) and Maryville (2.97) round out the top eight teams.

• Season leaders. DeHart leads USI with 15.0 points and 3.5 assists per game, while Haithcock is averaging 12.8 points and a team-high 7.2 rebounds per contest. Sophomore guard Addy Blackwell is contributing 9.0 points and a team-high 1.8 steals per outing, while senior guard Ashley Hunter is adding 7.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.3 steals per appearance. Turner leads USI with 1.0 blocks per contest.

Aces open season in 10 days

When the 2020 season was cut short for the University of Evansville softball team due to the pandemic, it was an unfortunate break for a Purple Aces squad who won four of its six games leading to MVC play.  With the majority of that team coming back, the Aces are ready to get back on the field in 2021.

Evansville wrapped up last season with a 12-11 mark, but was playing its best softball at the time of the cutoff.  UE went 3-2 in the Red & Black Challenge in Louisville with a win over Big Ten opponent Illinois highlighting the weekend.  An 11-0 victory against Purdue Fort Wayne in the home opener saw the Aces grab even more momentum heading into the league slate, which was set to begin four days later.

“We are really happy with the way the schedule turned out this spring. Our ladies are so excited to finally be able to get back on the diamond and compete against other teams,” UE head softball coach Mat Mundell said.  “We do understand there may be challenges along the way the team has done a tremendous job of being open and understanding.  We hope to build off the foundation we set last spring.  We are just so grateful for the opportunity to be able to play again.”

With student-athletes able to get their year back for 2020 competition and the 2021 MVC Softball Championship coming to Cooper Stadium, the program is on the rise heading into the season.  A trip to Natchitoches, Louisiana marks the season opener with the Aces taking part in the Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission Lady Demon Classic, which will be hosted by Northwestern State.  UE begins on Friday, Feb. 12 against UT Martin before wrapping up opening day with a game against Arkansas Pine Bluff.

Day two of the season pits the Aces against the host Lady Demons.  Last season, they were 15-7 and earned 30 wins in 2019.  Game two of the day will be a rematch against Arkansas Pine Bluff.  The tournament will be completed on the 14^th with a morning game versus Northwestern State.

Another trip south awaits the Aces when they travel to Montgomery, Alabama for week two of action.  The Black & Gold Tournament will be hosted by Alabama State.  UE starts the weekend on Friday, Feb. 19 against Middle Tennessee State before facing the ASU Hornets to complete the day.  On the 20^th, the Aces take on UT Martin for the second weekend in a row before squaring off against Alabama A&M.  Sunday’s action features a rematch against MTSU.

Week three of the season pits the Aces against a pair of Tennessee schools at the Frost Classic.  Set for Feb. 27 and 28, UE faces Tennessee Tech in the opening game each day before facing Chattanooga in the afternoon.  In 2019, Chattanooga want 37-17 on its way to the Southern Conference Championship and a berth in the NCAA regionals.

March begins on Wednesday the 3^rd with a doubleheader at Bellarmine.  Home action starts that weekend with a 4-game series versus Purdue Fort Wayne on the 6^th and 7^th.  There will be a doubleheader each day.  Information for the weekend of March 13 will be announced soon.

Missouri Valley Conference play opens on March 20-21 with a 3-game set against Loyola.  In the shortened 2020 season, the Ramblers were 12-9.  A midweek contest pits the Aces against SIU Edwardsville.  They were rolling a year ago – winning 13 out of their 18 games.  League play continues on the 27^th with a 3-game home set against Valparaiso before UE welcomes UT Martin for a doubleheader on the 30^th.  It will be the third time the squads will face off in 2021.

In its first conference road series, the Aces travel to UNI on Friday, April 2 and Saturday the 3^rd.  It is the first of three consecutive weekends on the road.  UE heads to Southern Illinois on April 10-11 before continuing at Drake on the 17^th and 18^th of April.  SIU had the league’s top record in 2020 – 15-6.

On April 21, UE returns home for a doubleheader against Indiana State before welcoming Illinois State for a 3-game series on the 24^th and 25^th.  Following a trip to Indiana State on the 28^th, the Aces host Bradley in their final home series of the regular season on May 1-2.  A road trip to Missouri State completes the regular season on May 8-9.

The MVC Tournament will be held at Cooper Stadium and runs from May 12-15.

University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball is on the road again this week with visits to William Jewell College ( Friday at 6 p.m. and Rockhurst University Saturday at 4 p.m. After the trip to the Liberty, Missouri, and Kansas City, Missouri, the Screaming Eagles (7-3) have six of the last eight games scheduled at home.

Fans can catch all of the game coverage for the 2020-21, including live stats, video stream, and audio broadcasts, is available at GoUSIEagles.com. The games also can be heard on ESPN 97.7FM and 95.7FM The Spin.

Fans can watch free of charge on the GLVC Sports Network, which is available both on your desktop, mobile/tablet devices, as well as four over-the-top (OTT) platforms (Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV and Apple TV). GLVCSN.com is the official website of the GLVC Sports Network, while the GLVCSN mobile app is available for iOS in the App Store and Android on Google Play. More information can be found at GLVCSN FAQs.

USI Men’s Basketball vs. William Jewell, Rockhurst Quick Notes:

Eagles sweep road trip. USI moved into a 2.5 game lead in the GLVC East Division with a road-trip sweep last week. USI started the week with wins over Lewis University, 74-65, and the University of Illinois Springfield, 88-69. Senior forward Josh Price, who had a career-high 35 points versus Illinois Springfield, led USI on the road trip with 26.0 points per game, while junior forward Jelani Simmons averaged 20.0 points per contest.

USI in first in GLVC East. The Eagles starts the week in the GLVC East Division by a 2.5 games and is fourth in the GLVC Point Rating System.

2020-21 Eagle leaders. Senior forwards Josh Price leads USI with 18.3 points and 9.8  rebounds per game. Junior guard Jelani Simmons and senior guard Mateo Rivera round out USI’s double-digit scorers with 12.8 and 12.3 points per contest, respectively.

USI on the road. USI is 4-2 this season on the road, led by senior forward Josh Price with 19.0 and 8.7 rebounds per game. Senior guard Mateo Rivera follows with 13.0 points per outing, while junior guard Jelani Simmons rounds out the road double-digit scorers with 11.3 points per contest.