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After two weeks and nearly 2,500 miles on the road, the University of Evansville women’s basketball team will finally return home to Roberts Stadium on Tuesday morning, as the Purple Aces will host the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles in the annual Future Purple Aces Fast B.R.E.A.K. (Basketball Reinforcing Education to Area Kids) Game. Tip-off is set for 11:00 a.m.
Tuesday’s game will culminate this year’s Future Purple Aces Fast B.R.E.A.K. program, a collaborative effort by the Lady Aces, the UE athletics department, the University of Evansville School of Education, and local area schools to help teach kids in grades 3-8 about the subject of mathematics by using the sport of basketball. Over 1,300 students from 17 local area schools will be on hand Tuesday, as the game will serve as an academic field trip for the children.
“The Fast B.R.E.A.K. program is something that we are very proud of,”?said UE head coach Tricia Cullop. “Academics is something that we take a lot of pride in here at UE, and for us to be able to help kids learn a subject like math in a new and exciting way is great. The program also allows our players to get out in the community and serve as role models for the young kids, and it is great that we are able to give back to the community in that way.”
Evansville will bring a 2-3 overall record into Tuesday’s game, with all three losses coming on the road at the hands of teams that advanced on to postseason play last year. The Purple Aces are hoping to bounce back from a 77-74 defeat suffered at East Tennessee State on Saturday. Senior guard Rebekah Parker equaled a season-high with 22 points, and fellow senior Courtney Felke added 13 points and six assists, but an 11-2 ETSU run midway through the second half proved to be too much to overcome for UE. Felke currently leads the Purple Aces in scoring at 14.8 points per game, while Parker is not far behind at 13.2 points per contest.
Tennessee Tech will bring a 1-2 record into Tuesday’s contest. The Golden Eagles opened the year with a 74-58 victory at Memphis, but have dropped back-to-back contests against in-state rivals Middle Tennessee State (89-62) and Belmont (65-59). Junior guard Meagan Lyons paces the Tennessee Tech attack with an average of 15.3 points per game, while sophomore guard Holly Rogers, a transfer from Vanderbilt, pitches in 10.3 points and 5.3 assists per game.
“It will be good to get back home tomorrow and play in front of our home fans once again," said Cullop. "After two weeks on the road, I?know that a lot of our players are excited to be back at Roberts Stadium, playing in front of our home fans. Hopefully, we can give our fans a lot to cheer about tomorrow morning.”
Roberts Stadium has treated the Purple Aces well over the last four years, as UE has posted a 32-10 home record since the start of the 2004-05 season, including going 14-1 at home in non-conference play. Tuesday’s game can be heard live throughout the Tri-State area on 91.5 F.M.-WUEV.
