EVANSVILLE, Ind. - In its final two games inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse this season, the University of Evansville women's basketball teams hosts Loyola at 7 p.m. on Friday before closing the home slate on Sunday with Senior Day at 1 p.m. against Valparaiso.
The Aces are back inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse after a two-game trip to Illinois last weekend in which Evansville opened with a loss at Bradley before dropping a contest at Illinois State. Against the Braves on Friday night, Evansville took a 31-30 lead to the halftime break before Bradley responded with a 42-14 advantage in the third quarter in the Braves' 92-47 win. On Sunday, the Aces kept pace with Illinois State as both teams shot under 40% from the field, but the Redbirds won the rebounding battle, 58-20, and grabbed the 70-44 win.
UE vs. Loyola (Friday, 7 p.m.): Watch Live | Listen Live I Live Stats | Loyola Website
UE vs. Valparaiso (Sunday, 1 p.m.): Watch Live | Listen Live I Live Stats | Valparaiso Website
With the Aces dealing with a wave of injuries over the last month and a half, Evansville has needed a veteran presence to step-up. Junior guard Kerri Gasper has done just that, averaging team-highs in scoring (14.2), rebounding (6.2), assists (2.9), and steals (1.2) since conference play began. The Olmsted Township, Ohio native has led, or been tied for the lead, in scoring in each of the last seven Aces contests and is averaging 18.4 points and 6.3 rebounds per game while shooting 43.1% (22-51) from beyond the arc during that stretch.
The Aces (3-22, 0-14 MVC) open their final home weekend on Friday night against Loyola. Friday's matchup marks the 34th all-time meeting between the two teams with the Ramblers possessing a 21-12 advantage in the all-time series. UE and Loyola previously met earlier this season on January 28, 2018, when the Ramblers captured an 82-63 win. Loyola enters Friday's matchup with a 6-19 overall record and a 4-10 mark in MVC action and is coming off a weekend split a week ago as the Ramblers fell at Missouri State, 69-58, before defeating Southern Illinois on the road on Sunday, 62-53.
Prior to the game, the University of Evansville athletics department, partnering with the University of Evansville Student Activities Board, will host a pregame tailgate Friday evening at 6 p.m. for UE students in front of the Carson Center, weather permitting. The tailgate will lead into the University of Evansville's women's basketball team's contest against Loyola tipping-off at 7 p.m. inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse. Friday's tailgate will feature hamburgers, hot dogs, and soft drinks free for UE students. Non-students are invited to join in the festivities and bring their own food and beverages to the tailgate.
Evansville wraps-up the weekend with Senior Day on Sunday at 1 p.m. against Valparaiso. The Aces will honor a pair of seniors who have contributed a season each to the program. Graduate guard Hannah Noe and senior forward Elizabeth Perkins will be recognized Friday for their efforts. Noe leads the Aces in scoring with 13.3 points per game and sits in ninth in Aces' program history in single-season three-pointers with 60 so far this season. Perkins joined Evansville just two weeks ago and has appeared in all four contests, playing 12 minutes.
The Aces and Valparaiso are meeting for the 14th time with Evansville maintaining a 7-6 advantage in the all-time series. The two sides last met earlier in the 2017-18 campaign on January 26, 2018 when the Crusaders earned a 101-59 win. Valparaiso heads into the weekend with an 11-14 overall record and a 4-10 tally in MVC play and is coming off a weekend in which the Crusaders suffered an 88-86 double-overtime loss on Friday at Southern Illinois before falling on the road Missouri State on Sunday, 66-60.
Fans who bring their ticket stub from Saturday's men's basketball home game against Southern Illinois to Sunday's women's basketball contest will receive admission to the game for $3.
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