Game Notes
Free Live Game Audio (Courtesy of the Aces Radio Network)
Free Live Game Video (Courtesy of the Horizon League Network)
After a 13-day break for final exams, the University of Evansville women’s basketball team will finally return to action on Friday night, as the Purple Aces will travel to Dayton, Ohio to battle the Wright State University Raiders. Tip-off is set for 6:00 p.m. central time and Friday’s game can be heard live in the Tri-State area on the Aces’ Radio Network (91.5 F.M.-WUEV, 100.5 F.M.-WSJD, 103.9 F.M.-WNTC).
Evansville will bring a 5-4 overall record into Friday night’s contest. The Purple Aces have not played since knocking off in-state rival Ball State, 70-55, on Saturday, December 8. UE’s junior class stepped up to shoulder the load in the win over the Cardinals, as juniors Ashley Austin, Kate Batey, Robyn Jennings, and Shannon Novosel combined for 49 of UE’s 70 points and 25 of Evansville’s 43 rebounds in the win. Austin (18 points) and Batey (seven points in seven minutes) both recorded single-game career scoring highs in the victory, while Novosel grabbed a career-best 14 rebounds.
Senior guards Courtney Felke (13.2 ppg) and Rebekah Parker (12.8 ppg) continue to pace the Purple Aces’ attack this year. Felke currently ranks third nationally in three-point field goals per game at 3.3 per contest, while Parker will enter Friday’s game needing just five more points to move into 10th place all-time at UE in career scoring. Should she crack UE’s career Top 10 in scoring on Friday, she will become just the second Purple Ace to rank in the school’s career Top 10 in scoring, rebounding, assists, and steals, joining UE Hall of Fame member Barb Dykstra.
Wright State will enter Friday’s game with a 2-8 overall record. The Raiders are trying to snap a three-game losing streak, after dropping contests at Wake Forest (64-46), Cincinnati (73-66) and Dayton (65-46) on a recent three-game road trip. Wright State currently has four players averaging in double-figures, led by freshman guard Sheylani Peddy’s 15.1 points per game average. Sophomore guard Kanisha Ward (11.5 ppg) and senior forwards Sierra Crayton (10.0 ppg) and Whitney Lewis (12.7 ppg) also average in double-figures so far this year for the Raiders.
