Credit to: usiscreamingeagles.com
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball hits the road this week with stops at Western Illinois University on Thursday and Lindenwood University on Saturday.
Thursday’s game at Western Illinois will start at 5 p.m. on ESPN+, while Saturday’s clash at Lindenwood will start at 11 a.m. on ESPNU. Saturday’s game is the first nationally televised game for USI Women’s Basketball at the D-I level. The Spin 95.7 FM will have additional radio coverage for both contests.
Southern Indiana (17-8, 9-5 OVC) begins the week in fifth place in the Ohio Valley Conference standings and three games back of first place. Tennessee Tech University and Lindenwood currently claim the top spot with a 12-2 conference record.
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USI looks to increase its forward momentum heading into the final three weeks of the regular season and earn positive results on the road. In USI’s last road swing, the Screaming Eagles won two games out of a three-game road swing.
The Eagles also seek a second consecutive victory after picking up a 67-56 home win last time out against Southeast Missouri State University last Saturday. Following a slow, low-scoring start on Saturday, USI was able to get some offensive momentum going in the final three quarters. Senior guard Vanessa Shafford matched a season high with a team-high 24 points in the game. Graduate forward Meredith Raley added 15 points.
Raley remains atop of the team lead in scoring with 14 points per game. Shafford is second on the squad with just over 12 points per game after her 24-point performance last time out. Junior guard Ali Saunders and sophomore guard Triniti Ralston round out USI’s double-digit scorers at 10.6 and 10.1 points per contest, respectively. Southern Indiana averages 71.6 points per outing while holding opponents to 62.3 points.
Western Illinois (12-11, 6-8 OVC) is seventh in the OVC standings entering the week. The Leathernecks dropped both of their games last week against Tennessee State University, 70-66, and the University of Tennessee at Martin, 75-55, after winning their previous three games.
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Sophomore guard Raegan McCowan is the team and OVC leader in scoring with 21.1 points per game. McCowan also paces the team and is second in the conference with 8.1 rebounds per contest. McCowan has eight double-doubles this season. Junior forward Mia Nicastro also averages double figures at 14.9 points per game. Western Illinois is recording 70.9 points and allowing 66 points per game this season.
USI leads the all-time series against Western Illinois, 4-0. The Screaming Eagles won the previous meeting this season at home inside Liberty Arena, 72-58, on January 18. Raley scored a game-high 21 points for the Eagles, while Shafford posted a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Lindenwood (16-7, 12-2 OVC) seeks to remain atop the conference standings this week and will host Morehead State University on Thursday before welcoming in USI on Saturday. The Lions have won seven games in a row since their last loss against Southern Indiana, 70-66, on January 16. Last week, Lindenwood swept its slate with a 62-59 win against UT Martin and an 81-70 victory over Tennessee State.
Sophomore guard Ellie Brueggemann leads the Lions this season with 11.9 points per game. Brueggemann is one of the top three-point shooters in the OVC, shooting over 35 percent and averaging more than two made threes per game. Sophomore guards Gracy Wernli and Brooke Coffey also average 10-plus per contest for the Lions. Lindenwood averages 68.6 points per game while surrendering 65.3 points.
USI is 9-0 in the all-time series against Lindenwood. Earlier this season, Southern Indiana came back from a halftime deficit to defeat Lindenwood, 70-66, at home on January 16. Graduate forward Madi Webb led all scorers in the game with a season-high 18 points. Shafford and Raley tallied 16 and 15 points, respectively.
Following the conclusion of this week’s road trip, the Screaming Eagles return to Liberty Arena next week for their final regular-season home games against Eastern Illinois University on February 20 and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville on February 22. Tickets for all home games at Liberty Arena can be purchased online at usiscreamingeagles.com or the USI Ticket Office.
