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The University of Evansville women’s basketball team will try to slow down one of the nation’s top offensive attacks on Saturday afternoon at Roberts Stadium, as the Purple Aces will do battle with high-flying Missouri State. Tip-off is set for 2:05 p.m. and Saturday’s game can be heard live on 91.5 F.M.-WUEV.
Missouri State will enter Saturday’s game ranked 18th nationally in scoring offense with an average of 76.7 points per game. The Lady Bears currently rank in the nation’s top 50 in all three shooting percentages, including leading the Missouri Valley Conference in overall field goal percentage at 43.4 percentage. Overall, Missouri State currently stands at 13-6 overall and 5-3 in the MVC, with the lone vulnerable spot coming on defense, as the Lady Bears currently rank ninth in the Valley in scoring defense by allowing an average of 72.2 points per game.
Pacing the Missouri State attack is the sophomore dynamic duo of point guard Casey Garrison and shooting guard Jaleshia Roberson. Garrison currently leads the MVC in scoring at 19.2 points per game, and individually ranks among the nation’s top 20 in both scoring and assists with an average of 6.0 assists per contest. Roberson, meanwhile, ranks sixth in the league in scoring at 14.2 points per game, while shooting 39.8 percent from three-point range and averaging nearly three three-point field goals per contest. In Valley play, the duo has combined for over 36.0 points per game, as they rank first and third in the league in scoring in league play.
“Missouri State is one of the most dynamic offensive teams we will face this season,” said UE head coach Misty Murphy. “They have a wealth of shooters that they can rotate in and out of their lineup, and Garrison and Roberson are two of the top guards in not only the Valley, but also the Midwest. Our defense will definitely be tested tomorrow, because even on an off-night offensively, Missouri State can score 65 or 70 points.”
Evansville will enter Saturday’s contest off of its first MVC victory of the year, as the Purple Aces rallied past Wichita State, 83-78, in overtime on Thursday night. Sophomore guard
Jordan Lewis and freshman guard
Kaylan Martin combined for 17 of UE’s final 23 points on Thursday to help the Purple Aces rally from a seven-point deficit with less than two minutes to play to force overtime and snap a seven-game losing streak. Overall, senior guard
Amy Gallagher paced a season-best five Purple Aces (4-15 overall, 1-7 MVC) in double-figures in the win with 18 points, six rebounds, and six assists.
“I felt like we were a little tight offensively in the first half, but in the second half, we came out with great focus and relaxed and did a good job of executing on both ends of the court,” said Murphy. “The second half and overtime was probably one of the best stretches we have had as a team this season, and hopefully, we will be able to build off of that performance on Saturday.”
Missouri State leads the all-time series over UE, 24-9. The Lady Bears swept the season series from UE last year, including posting a 76-63 victory in Evansville last January
