Game Notes
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The University of Evansville women's basketball team welcomes Butler University to Roberts Stadium for the teams’ 37th meeting in history Tuesday morning at 11:00am CST. Butler leads the all-time series over Evansville, 21-15, topping the Aces, 77-41, last year. Here’s a brief look at Tuesday’s match-up:
EVANSVILLE (4-3, 0-0) - The Aces come off a second-place finish in their own Heritage Federal Credit Union Aces Classic. With two seconds left on the clock, junior Briyana Blair’s strong left-handed layup gave Evansville a, 69-67, first round win over Valparaiso University. In the championship game, the Aces fell, 96-83, to Central Michigan. Senior Stephanie Bamberger represented UE on the all-tournament team, totaling 32 points across the two days. Sophomore Samantha Heck leads UE, averaging 12.1 points per game.
BUTLER (4-3, 0-0) - Butler, playing its third road game of the season, is looking for its first victory on an opponent’s home court. The Bulldogs have lost at Bradley and at Notre Dame while going 1-1 on neutral courts. They come off Saturday’s 81-72 win over Indiana State. Brittany Bowen scored 30 in the victory and leads the Bulldogs, averaging 18.0 points per game and 6.0 rebounds. Chloe Hamilton (12.6 ppg) and Alyssa Pittman (10.1 ppg) also average double figures.
A UE WIN OVER BUTLER WOULD…
Make UE 5-3 … Exceed the Aces’ total wins in 2009-10 ... Improve coach Misty Murphy’s record to 24-48 at UE and 132-113 overall … Make UE 438-530 all-time.
A UE LOSS TO BUTLER WOULD…
Make UE 4-4 … Drop coach Murphy’s record at UE to 23-49 and 131-114 overall … Make UE 437-531 all-time.
BAM!
Senior Stephanie Bamberger scored 32 points across two games and was selected to the all-tournament team as Evansville placed second in the Heritage Federal Credit Union Aces Classic. Bamberger hit four threes in the Aces’ first-round win over Valparaiso, totaling 15 points, two assists, and two steals. Against Central Michigan, UE’s lone senior scored a career-high 17 points, hitting three threes and went 6-for-6 from the free throw line.
ELLERSON’S DEBUT
Freshman
Katie Ellerson saw a career-high nine minutes on the floor against Central Michigan, and in that time scored 11 points, hitting 3-of-4 from three. She also went 2-for-2 from the free throw line, and tacked on an assist and blocked shot.
SERIOUS PT
Junior
Staci Gillum rarely finds a seat on the bench, averaging 34.4 minutes per game. She is the Aces only player to average 30+ minutes and ranks fifth in the MVC.
“BLAIR” IT UP
With two seconds left on the clock, junior Briyana Blair’s strong left-handed layup gave Evansville a, 69-67, first round win over Valparaiso University in the Heritage Federal Credit Union Aces Classic. Blair scored 25 points across the two games, including a career-high 17 points against Valpo, along with five rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Against Central Michigan, Blair tallied eight points and seven rebounds.
HOMEMADE TREATS... OR STORE-BOUGHT ARE JUST AS GOOD
On the subject of wins, it doesn’t seem to matter whether or not the Aces play on their Roberts Stadium home court, just as long as they are wearing white jerseys and have their points on the home side of the scoreboard. The Aces are 3-1 when playing at Roberts Stadium and are 4-1 when designated the home team. That includes UE’s neutral site win over EWU in Boulder, Colo. … not exactly a home win, but tastes the same.
PLAY THE BEST TO BE THE BEST
The Aces’ schedule features a number of top teams in the country ... Bowling Green - Ranks No. 4 on CollegeInsider.com’s Mid-Major Poll - UE won 63-62 (11/12/10) ... Colorado - Member of the Big 12, which finished with the hight RPI rating last year - UE lost 55-53 (11/26/10) ... Wisconsin-Green Bay: Ranks No. 1 on CollegeInsider.com’s Mid-Major Poll - UE plays at Green Bay on Dec. 18 ... Missouri State: Ranks No.12 on CollegeInsider.com’s Mid-Major Poll - UE plays at MSU on Jan. 1 ... Creighton: Ranks No.16 on CollegeInsider.com’s Mid-Major Poll - UE hosts Creighton on Feb. 5
SHARING IS CARING
With 108 assists on the year, Evansville ranks first in the MVC, averaging 15.4 per game. Jordan Lewis (3.0 apg) and Staci Gillum (1.3 apg) rank in the MVC’s top-ten in the category.
CLOSING TIME
This is Evansville’s final season at Roberts Stadium. Opened in 1956 and completely renovated in 1990, the 11,600-seat facility has been the site of more than 1,000 UE basketball games. The final women’s game there will be March 5 versus Wichita State. A $127 million arena in downtown Evansville will be ready for next season.
EARLY SIGNEES
Coach Misty Murphy has announced the signing of three high school standouts to National Letters of Intent. Guards Juliann Miller (Louisville, Ky./Mercy Academy), LeiLoni Smith (Vian, Okla./Vian), and Kourtni Taylor (Akron, Ohio/Lake Ridge Academy) will make up the Lady Aces’ freshman class for the 2011-12 season.
TREY BIEN
The Aces rank No. 2 in the MVC for three-point defense, limiting their opponents to a .260 shot percentage (33-for-127) from beyond the arc.
