EVANSVILLE, Ind. - The University of Evansville women's basketball returns from its 10-day break for the holidays to play host to Southern Illinois and Missouri State on Friday and Sunday inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse in the Purple Aces' opening weekend of Missouri Valley Conference play.
Evansville is coming off a narrow 75-66 loss on the road at SEMO on December 19. The Aces jumped out to a 15-14 lead at the conclusion of the opening quarter before the Redhawks pushed out to a one-point lead at the half. A 27-point third quarter helped SEMO pull away in the third period before the Aces had one last shot int he waning minutes of the contest. Evansville utilized an 11-3 run to trim its deficit to just one at 55-54 with 7:21 left in the fourth, but the Redhawkshit a pair of timely threes to increase their advantage and take the 75-66 win.
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UE vs. SIU (Friday, 7 p.m.): Watch Live | Listen Live I Live Stats | SIU Website
UE vs. Missouri State (Sunday, 1 p.m.): Watch Live | Listen Live I Live Stats | Missouri State Website
MVC play begins for the Aces on Friday at 7 p.m. in Meeks Family Fieldhouse when Evansville hosts SIU. The meeting marks the 57th matchup between the two sides with the all-time series tied at 28. The two sides last met on February 17, 2017 when Evansville captured a 74-61 win over SIU in Carbondale. when the Redhawks earned a narrow 76-74 win over the Aces at the Ford Center. A win for the Aces would be the third-straight over the Salukis for UE and the longest streak since a three-game spree for the Aces from 2008 to 2009. SIU enters the matchup with a 5-6 overall record having lost three-straight games.
Meeting for 52nd time, Evansville and Missouri State wrap-up the weekend at 1 p.m. on Sunday. The Bears own a 38-13 advantage in the all-time series, earning six-straight victories from March 7, 2015 to March 10, 2017. UE snapped Missouri State's series winning-streak in the quarterfinals of the MVC Tournament when the Aces upset the Bears, 65-59, in Moline, Illinois. In the series, Evansville is 9-15 in home games against MSU and is searching for its first home win over the Bears since a 72-64 victory on March 1, 2014. The Bears open conference play with a 4-7 overall record and have won three of their last four matchups.
Friday's game against the Salukis marks the first MVC game inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse since a 63-60 loss to UNI on February 13, 1999.
