USI Women’s Basketball releases 2021-22 schedule

EVANSVILLE, Ind.—University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball released its 2021-22 schedule Thursday afternoon. This year’s slate features 28 games, eight of which are non-conference and 20 against Great Lakes Valley Conference competition.

Included in the non-conference schedule is a heavy dose of Midwest Region bouts, including home games against Davenport University and Ashland University.

After opening the year November 12-13 against Midwest Region foes Ohio Dominican University and Cedarville University at the Cedarville Classic in Cedarville, Ohio; USI welcomes fans back to Screaming Eagles Arena for the first time since 2019-20 when it hosts Davenport in its home-opener November 16.

In addition to its November 24 home game against Ashland, which advanced to the NCAA II Midwest Region championship game last year, the Eagles also host Kentucky Christian University December 10 to wrap up their non-conference home games.

USI’s non-conference road schedule includes a November 20 trip to Saginaw Valley State University as well as the Division II Holiday Hoops Classic December 18-19 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Eagles are scheduled to take on West Texas A&M University December 18 and the University of Wisconsin-Parkside December 19.

“I am very excited about our non-conference schedule this year,” Head Coach Rick Stein said. “We will once again be playing one of the toughest schedules in the Midwest Region and Division II.

“We have a great mix of GMAC and GLIAC opponents, including defending GMAC champ Cedarville and regional finalist Ashland, which should only help our chances to be noticed and ranked in the Midwest Region,” Stein continued. “The Las Vegas Classic will also be a tough and challenging two days as we play perennial powerhouse West Texas A&M and another very good GLIAC opponent in Parkside!”

The Eagles’ Great Lakes Valley Conference schedule begins November 29 when they host the University of Indianapolis at Screaming Eagles Arena. USI’s conference home schedule also includes bouts against Southwest Baptist University (January 8), McKendree University (January 17), the University of Illinois Springfield (January 20), Lewis University (January 22), Rockhurst University (February 3), William Jewell College (February 5), Maryville University (February 17), Missouri University of Science & Technology (February 19) and Lindenwood University (February 26).

USI’s GLVC road schedule includes Illinois Springfield (December 2), McKendree (January 2), Lewis (January 4), Lindenwood (January 6), Indianapolis (January 15), Truman State University (January 27), Quincy University (January 29), Drury University (February 10), Southwest Baptist (February 12) and the University of Missouri-St. Louis (February 19).

“The GLVC will be as good as it has ever been,” Stein said. “There are no easy games in the league and GLVC Women’s Basketball will prove to be one of the best conferences in the country once again. We look forward to the challenge of keeping our streak of East Division championships going as well as competing for the GLVC championship!”

The GLVC Tournament is March 3-6, while the NCAA II Midwest Region Tournament is scheduled for March 11-14. The NCAA II Elite Eight is March 22-25 in Birmingham, Alabama.

Season tickets for USI home games go on sale Monday. For more information, visit GoUSIEagles.com/tickets.

Schedule Notes
• Eagles playing non-conference games. USI is playing a full slate of non-conference games for the first time since 2019-20 after playing a GLVC-only schedule last season due to COVID-19.

• GLVC East Division Champs. The Eagles won the GLVC East Division a year ago, marking the third consecutive season when the league has been split into divisions that the Eagles have captured the East Division title. USI will be in search of their fourth straight Division crown in 2021-22 as it competes, once more, in the East Division.

• Divisional breakdown. The GLVC is once again split into three Divisions, consisting of the East, Central and West. USI is joined in the East Division by Illinois Springfield, Indianapolis, Lewis and McKendree. The Central Division consists of Lindenwood, Maryville, Missouri-St. Louis, Quincy and Truman State; while the West Division includes Drury, Missouri S&T, Rockhurst, Southwest Baptist and William Jewell.

• Point Rating System. GLVC Tournament participants continue to be decided by the GLVC Point Rating System, which awards points based on win/loss strength. USI finished third in the GLVC Point Rating System standings last year but was unable to compete in the GLVC Tournament due to COVID-19 concerns.

• We’re back! USI is bringing back 11 of its 12 players from last season’s squad, including senior guards Emma DeHart (Indianapolis, Indiana) and Ashley Hunter (Flossmoor, Illinois), both of whom are returning for their fifth year of eligibility due to NCAA COVID-19 rules.

• USI’s opponents in 2020-21. The Eagles’ opposition in 2020-21 combined for a 244-224 overall record, two regular-season conference championships, a conference tournament title, a regional championship and a combined four NCAA II Tournament appearances.

• USI vs. 2021-22 opponents. USI 257-196 all-time versus the teams on the Eagles’ 2021-22 schedule.

• Eagles at home. USI is 15-6 at home since moving into Screaming Eagles Arena in 2019-20.