UE women’s basketball home for two games supporting important causes

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The Purple Aces come into Thursday looking to build their first win-streak of the season
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Two big games are coming up for the University of Evansville women’s basketball team over the weekend.

Evansville vs. Southern Illinois | Thursday, Feb. 15  | 6 PM CT
Site | Locations
Meeks Family Fieldhouse | Evansville, Ind.
Game Coverage
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Evansville vs. Missouri State | Saturday, Feb. 17  | 2 PM CT
Site | Locations
Meeks Family Fieldhouse | Evansville, Ind.
Game Coverage
Live Stats | ESPN+ | Game Notes
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For the second year in a row, the Aces will be supporting two important causes while at home this week. Thursday night is Rising Coaches Equality Inclusion Night as the Aces will be wearing all black to support the initiative. Fans are also encouraged to wear black to Thursday evening’s game. Saturday against Missouri State is Evansville’s Play4Kay game supporting breast cancer awareness. All fans are encouraged to wear pink on Sunday in support of Play4Kay.

Southern Illinois comes into Thursday’s game starting their longest road trip of the season with four straight games away from Carbondale. The Salukis are on a five-game losing streak as SIU fell to Belmont, 65-55, on Sunday. Southern Illinois is led by Laniah Randle who is top five in the MVC in both scoring (fourth, 17.6) and rebounding (second, 8.8). Randle has had 20 or more points in 10 games this season for 76th in the NCAA in scoring.

The Lady Bears visit Meeks Fieldhouse as one of the top three teams in the Valley standings but with their first loss in two weeks. Missouri State fell to Murray State on Sunday afternoon at Great Southern Bank Arena for its first home loss since Feb. 19 2023 against Belmont. Currently, the Lady Bears are shooting lights out from behind the arc, as they currently rank 33rd nationally and first in The Valley, shooting at a .357 (120-336) clip from three-point range.

After multiple close losses over the past two weeks, the Aces picked up their first Missouri Valley Conference win on Sunday afternoon. UE was able to overpower the Valparaiso Beacon’s in the paint on the road with a 71-68 win. It was a monumental game for freshman forward Nevaeh Thomas. Thomas set multiple career highs in Valparaiso including rebounds (19), blocks (3), field goals made (10), and field goal attempts (16). Along with setting multiple career highs, Thomas led the Aces in scoring with 23 points while picking up her third double-double of the season and second of the weekend. Thomas was also named the MVC Freshman of the Week for her play against UIC and Valpo.

Junior guard Lexie Sinclair contributed on multiple big plays in the game on Sunday at Valparaiso. In the final 15 seconds of a tight game, Sinclair saved a ball on the baseline to assist on a basket by Thomas and then stole the ball back from the Beacons only two seconds later to give UE one of the final possessions of the game. Sinclair drew a foul on the steal, making one of two free throws to seal the three-point win.

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