• Free Live Game Audio (Will Begin Approximately 10 Minutes Before Tip-Off)
After wrapping up final exams on Wednesday, the University of Evansville women’s basketball team hits the road on Thursday for the first of its final two non-conference tests prior to Missouri Valley Conference play, as the Purple Aces will head to Cookeville, Tennessee to take on the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. and Thursday’s game can be heard on an internet-only basis at GoPurpleAces.com by clicking on the link above.
Thursday’s game at Tennessee Tech will begin a mini two-game road trip to end non-conference play for UE, as the Purple Aces will also travel to Wisconsin-Milwaukee on Monday night. Evansville currently stands at 6-3 on the season, after holding off Murray State, 57-52, on Sunday. Junior guard Amy Gallagher helped account for 32 of UE’s 57 points on Sunday, as she scored a career-high 16 points and added a career-best seven assists in the win.
Evansville is currently one game better in the win-loss column than last year’s 21-12 squad through nine games, thanks to a defense which has held five of its first nine opponents below 60 points. Offensively, four Purple Aces average double-figures, led by senior forward Robyn Jennings’ 14.0 points per game mark. Gallagher (10.8 ppg) and seniors Ashley Austin (10.4 ppg) and Shannon Novosel (10.1 ppg) also average double-figures so far for UE.
While Evansville won two-straight during the final exam period, Tennessee Tech has had the last 12 days off to study and take exams. The Golden Eagles have not played since posting an 84-60 victory over Ohio Valley Conference rival Jacksonville State on Saturday, December 6. The win helped snap a five-game losing streak for Tennessee Tech, as the Golden Eagles will bring a 2-6 overall record into Thursday’s game. Senior guard Blair Bowens, who averages a team-best 12.6 points per game so far this year, scored a career-high 24 points in the win over Jacksonville State.
Evansville leads the all-time series over Tennessee Tech, 4-3, including posting a 72-56 victory over the Golden Eagles last year at Roberts Stadium. UE has won four out of the last five meetings in the series overall.
