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EVANSVILLE, Ind.—Over the last four years, Courtney Felke and Rebekah Parker have helped change the face of University of Evansville women’s basketball. So, it was only fitting on Saturday that the duo made history on their “Senior Day,” as Felke and Parker helped power the Purple Aces past Bradley, 80-70, at Roberts Stadium in Evansville.
With the win, Felke and Parker recorded their 71st career victory as Purple Aces. It marks the highest four-year victory total by a senior class in UE women’s basketball history. The 71st win also came on a day when Evansville established a new single-season attendance record for the sixth consecutive season.
Evansville left little doubt in the outcome of Saturday’s contest, leading wire to wire to move into sole possession of first place in the MVC with a 19-8 overall record and 13-3 conference mark. Junior forward Shannon Novosel scored six of the game’s first 13 points, as Evansville built an early 11-2 lead just 3:30 into the contest.
The Braves would trim the UE lead back to five points on two separate occasions over the next two minutes, but that would be as close as Bradley would come the rest of the way, as Evansville connected on seven first-half three-pointers en route to building a 44-31 halftime lead. Felke led Evansville’s three-point barrage, going 3-for-6 from beyond the arc in the opening 20 minutes of play.
The UE lead would grow to as much as 18 points, 57-39, on another Felke three-point field goal with 12:44 to play, before Evansville would coast to its 13th victory in the last 14 contests. Felke led the Purple Aces with 18 points on 5-of-9 shooting from three-point range, while Parker added 14 points, six rebounds, five assists, and four steals in her final regular-season game at Roberts Stadium. In the process, Parker made UE history, becoming the only Purple Ace, male or female, to rank in the school’s career top five in scoring, rebounding, assists, and steals.
Novosel joined Parker and Felke in double-figures with 13 points, while freshman guard Ashlee Barrett continued her late season charge with 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the floor and a perfect 3-of-3 shooting from three-point range. Over the last three games, Barrett has stepped up to rank second on the team in scoring at 11.3 points per game on over 55.6 percent shooting from the floor.
Bradley senior guard Devyn Flanagan paced the Braves with 19 points and six assists. Rookie reserve forward Sonya Harris also added a 14-point, 12-rebound double-double, and guards Raisa Taylor and Skye Johnson pitched in 12 points apiece as well.
With the victory, Evansville takes over sole possession of first place in the MVC with a 19-8 overall record and 13-3 Valley mark. Bradley, meanwhile, slips to 11-17 overall and 5-12 in the Valley. Evansville will conclude the 2007-08 regular-season on the road this week, traveling to in-state rival Indiana State on Thursday (6:00 p.m. central) and Illinois State on Saturday afternoon (4:05 p.m. central). Both games can be heard live on the Aces’ Radio Network (91.5 F.M.-WUEV, 100.5 F.M.-WSJD, 103.9 F.M.-WNTC).
