EVANSVILLE, Ind.—University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball opens its 2021-22 home schedule Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. when it hosts Midwest Region foe Davenport University at Screaming Eagles Arena. The Eagles also visit Saginaw Valley State University Saturday at noon (CST) for a Midwest Region contest in University Center, Michigan.
Tuesday’s game marks the first time since February 29, 2020, that fans will have the opportunity to watch a collegiate basketball game inside Screaming Eagles Arena after the Screaming Eagles played the 2020-21 season without spectators due to COVID-19 protocols.
USI (1-1), which is meeting Davenport for the first time in women’s basketball, is coming off an 88-82 overtime loss to Cedarville University after earning a 64-58 victory over Ohio Dominican University in its season-opener.
If you go Tuesday
Masks are required to be worn inside Screaming Eagles Arena due to COVID-19 protocols. Single-game tickets can be purchased in advance at GoUSIEagles.com or at the ticket window on game day. USI Athletics also is collecting non-perishable food items to help support the Tri-State Food Bank Tuesday evening as well as for the USI Men’s Basketball game on Thursday.
How to follow
Tuesday’s game will be aired live on the GLVC Sports Network as well as 95.7 The Spin. Live stats, audio and video can be accessed at GoUSIEagles.com. Coverage for Saturday’s game against Saginaw Valley State also will be listed at GoUSIEagles.com.
USI Women’s Basketball Notes
• Eagles open season with 1-1 mark. USI Women’s Basketball went 1-1 at the Midwest Region Crossover in Cedarville, Ohio, last weekend to open the 2021-22 season. The Eagles jumped out to a 17-point third-quarter lead and held on for a 64-58 win over Ohio Dominican in their opener before seeing a 17-point second-quarter lead slip away in an 88-82 overtime loss to Cedarville on Saturday.
• Weekend leaders. Junior forward Hannah Haithcock (Washington Courthouse, Ohio) averaged 13.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game to lead the Eagles, while senior forward Ashlynn Brown (Perrysburg, Ohio) chipped in 12.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per appearance. Junior guard Addy Blackwell (Bloomington, Indiana and fifth-year senior guard averaged 10.0 and 9.5 points per contest, respectively, while fifth-year senior guard Ashley Hunter (Flossmoor, Illinois) chipped in 8.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per outing.
• Good debut. Junior guard Tori Handley (Jeffersonville, Indiana), a transfer from NCAA Division I SIU Edwardsville, averaged 5.5 points and a team-best 3.0 assists per game in her first two appearances with the Eagles. She had seven points to go with a team-high four assists and three steals in USI’s 88-82 overtime loss to Cedarville.
• Steals. The Eagles racked up 20 steals in their win over Ohio Dominican, their most in a single game since they had 21 in an 85-26 win over Harris-Stowe State December 16, 2017.
• Free throws. USI did not attempt a free throw in the first three quarters before going 9-of-10 from the charity stripe in the final 10 minutes of its win over Ohio Dominican. Blackwell took all 10 of USI’s free throw attempts. The Eagles got to the free throw line more frequently during their loss to Cedarville and had made eight straight foul shots in the second half before missing three straight in the final minute that would have likely clinched a win in regulation.
• DeHart to play in 100th career game. Fifth-year senior guard Emma DeHart (Indianapolis, Indiana) will play in her 100th career game for the Eagles when she suites up Tuesday night against Davenport. She has started 72 of USI’s last 74 games.
• USI picked to win East Division again. The Eagles were picked to repeat as GLVC East Division champions in 2021-22. USI won the East Division title last season, marking the third consecutive season when the league has been split into divisions that the Eagles have captured the East Division title.
• Welcome back. The Eagles played in front of fans last weekend for the first time since March 5, 2020; and are welcoming fans back into Screaming Eagles Arena for a women’s basketball game for the first time since February 29, 2020, when they host Davenport Tuesday in their home-opener. USI played all of 2020-21 without the presence of fans.
• Roaring 20s. DeHart reached the 20-point plateau four times last year, while Haithcock and Hunter each had one 20-point effort under their belts.
• Double-figures. USI has already had five different players reach double-figures in the scoring column this year. The Eagles had nine different players reach double-figures in the scoring column last year, with eight players having had 10 or more points in multiple games.
• About Davenport. The Panthers are 0-2 to start the year after going 6-14 overall and 5-13 in GLIAC play a year ago. Senior guard Toni Grace averaged 12.0 points per game to lead Davenport during its opening weekend, which featured home losses to GLVC foes Maryville (72-59) and Missouri-St. Louis (61-43). Freshman forward Lillee Gustafson averaged 5.0 points and a team-high 7.0 rebounds per appearance.
• About Saginaw Valley. The Cardinals (2-0), which visit Ohio Dominican and Tiffin Tuesday and Thursday, respectively, opened the season with home wins over Hillsdale (81-65) and Findlay (83-52) last weekend. Senior guards Maddie Barrie and Maddie Maloney respectively averaged 16.5 points and 16.0 points per game to lead SVSU, which was 10-10 overall and 9-9 in GLIAC play last season. Junior guard Kaitlyn Zarycki also averages 16.0 points per game, while junior forward Tori DePerry is chipping in 10.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per outing.
• Record book watch. The Eagles have one player making moves inside the USI Women’s Basketball Record Books:
–Emma DeHart ranks No. 7 on USI’s all-time list for three-point field goal attempts (350), No. 11 in made three-pointers (110) and No. 21 in points (924). DeHart is 21 points away from matching Penny Dietz for 20th and is vying to become the 19th player in program history to reach 1,000 career points.
• Magic Mark: 75 points. The Eagles are 423-78 (.844) all-time when scoring at least 75 points. USI is 296-29 (.911) since 1996-97 when reaching the 75-point plateau.
