Game Notes
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The University of Evansville women's basketball team hopes to snap Northern Iowa’s four-game win-streak and take a 19-18 lead in the all-time series when they travel to Cedar Falls, Iowa Friday for a 7:00pm CST tip-off. The Panthers (12-5, 5-1) come off a hot-shooting performance versus Drake, shooting 67.3 percent from the field and currently leads the MVC with 7.5 threes per game. The Aces’ (7-9, 2-3) used a scrappy defensive effort to record 18 steals and force Southern Illinois to commit 39 turnovers in their last outing. 

The Aces will continue Valley play on Sunday at Bradley University's Renaissance Coliseum for a 2:05PM CST start. UE looks to close the gap in the all-time series, as the Braves own an 18-15 advantage, including wins in the last two meetings. The last time Evansville topped BU was in the semifinals of the 2009 MVC Tournament. The Aces rallied from a 20-point deficit to take an 84-81 overtime victory, and set up a dramatic championship win over Creighton the next day.

EVANSVILLE (7-9, 2-3 MVC) - The Aces come off a 79-45 triumph over visiting Southern Illinois last Saturday. Sophomore Meagan Collins led Evansville with 14 points, followed by Samantha Heck’s 12 points and seven rebounds, and Chelsea Falkenstein’s 10 points. Junior Briyana Blair also had a stellar game, recording nine points, three assists, and two steals in her first career start for UE. Heck leads the Aces on the season, averaging 10.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, followed by Blair (9.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg) and Collins (8.9 ppg).

NORTHERN IOWA (12-5, 5-1 MVC) - UNI played spoilers last weekend, topping both Creighton and Drake and ending both teams’ perfect MVC records. Erin Brocka led UNI with 11 points and nine rebounds in their 58-57 edge over the Bluejays. The Panthers used a balanced scoring attack in their 89-51 win at Drake, as five players reached double figures. Jacqui Kalin (15.0 ppg), Lizzie Boeck (14.6 ppg, 7.9 rpg), and Katelin Oney (10.1 ppg) lead the Panthers’ offense this season. 

BRADLEY (8-9, 1-5 MVC) - The Braves look to end a three-game losing streak when they host Southern Illinois Friday. Bradley comes off straight losses to Missouri State, Drake, and most recently a 58-73 loss at Creighton last Saturday. On the season, Raisa Taylor (12.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg) and Katie Yohn (13.4 ppg) have piloted the Braves' offense.

A UE WIN OVER NORTHERN IOWA WOULD…
Make UE 8-9 overall ... Make UE 3-3 in the MVC ... Improve coach Misty Murphy’s record to 27-54 at UE and 135-119 overall … Make UE 441-536 all-time ... Give UE the lead in the all-time series, 19-18 ... Snap UNI’s four-game win streak.

A UE LOSS TO NORTHERN IOWA WOULD…
Make UE 7-10 … Make UE 2-4 in the MVC ... Drop coach Murphy’s record at UE to 26-55 and 134-120 overall … Make UE 440-537 all-time ... Give UNI the lead in the all-time series, 19-18 ... Extend UNI’s win-streak to five games.

CALLING ON COLLINS
In Evansville’s 79-45 win over Southern Illinois, sophomore Meagan Collins led the Aces in the scoring column for the third straight game, tallying 14 points against the Salukis. Collins knocked down a season-high two three-pointers, and also added five rebounds, three assists, and a block. In the last three conference games, Collins has averaged 14.7 points on 17-of-33 shooting (51.5 percent) and 7.3 rebounds per contest.

“BLAIR” IT UP
In her first career start, junior Briyana Blair served as a spark plug for Evansville in its 79-45 win over Southern Illinois. Blair tallied nine points, two rebounds, and three assists, while also adding two steals in the Aces’ 17 steal effort. UE’s scrappy defense, led by Blair, forced the Salukis to commit an unprecedented 39 turnovers. On the season, Blair ranks second on the team in scoring, averaging 9.4 points per game.

NO HARM, NO FOUL
The Aces average just 13.8 personal fouls per game, which ranks them 14th nationally. In 15-of-16 games, Evansville has been charged with the same amount or less personal fouls than its opponent. The national leader, Wyoming, averages 11.4 personal fouls per game.

GIVE A LITTLE, TAKE A LOT
Against Southern Illinois, Evansville swiped the ball 18 times, the most in the tenure of Coach Misty Murphy, while only surrendering three to the Salukis. Junior Chelsea Falkenstein led the squad with four steals, followed by senior Stephanie Bamberger’s and sophomore Samantha Heck’s three.

ARBY’S CALLED… THEY WANT THEIR TURNOVERS BACK
Evansville’s tenacious defense forced Southern Illinois to commit an unprecedented 39 turnovers in the Aces’ 79-45 win. UE scored 46 of its points off the TO’s, while also marking the most turnovers the Salukis have made since December 19, 1988. The 39 is the most any team in the MVC has forced this year. In the last two games (versus SIU and Drake), the Aces have forced a combined 69 turnovers.

GET TO THE POINT
Evansville’s first basket against UNI will put the Aces over the 1,000 point mark on the season. UE currently stands with 999 points through 16 games played, averaging 62.4 points per contest.

STARTING FIVE
The Aces have had three different starting lineups this season. Junior forward Chelsea Falkenstein, junior guard Staci Gillum, and senior guard Stephanie Bamberger have started all 16 games this season, while Meagan Collins joined the starting five for the past seven games after previous regular starter Jordan Lewis’ season ended due to injury. In the Aces’ most recent game, junior Briyana Blair started in place of sophomore center Samantha Heck to provide a defensive spark against turnover-prone SIU.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN
After three straight home games, the Aces play on the road versus UNI and then bus to Bradley for a 2:05pm start Sunday. UE is back home again next Thursday against Indiana State. The Aces are 5-4 when they play at Roberts Stadium, 1-5 on the road, and 1-0 at a neutral site.

DOUBLE THE FUN
Samantha Heck and Meagan Collins are the only current Lady Aces with a double-double on their resumes. Heck’s double-double (16 points, 12 rebounds) against Saint Louis on Dec. 22 marked the first by a UE player since Shannon Novosel tallied 20 points and 10 rebounds at Southern Illinois on March 7, 2009. Collins scored one of her own versus Drake (1/9/10) with 19 points and 11 rebounds.

TREY BIEN
Freshman Katie Ellerson leads the MVC in all games with a .484 three-point field goal percentage, making 15-of-31. Against conference opponents, the Muskego, Wis. native ranks third, shooting 50 percent (9-for-18) from behind the arc. Senior Stephanie Bamberger ranks first in the Valley in conference games, knocking down 7-of-12 from three (58.3 percent).

B.E.E.F.
With so many close games, free throws have made a huge impact in the outcome of UE’s contests this season. When the Aces shoot above 60%, they own a 7-4 record. When they shoot below 60% they are winless (0-5).

SPOILER ALERT
Evansville’s thrilling one-point win over Bowling Green to kick off the season has proven to be even more meaningful than first thought. That loss for the Falcons was their only until Kent State recently broke the BGSU’s 15-game win-streak with a 44-43 edge. BGSU currently stands with a 16-2 record, ranks second in the CollegeInsider.com’s Mid-Major Poll, and has received votes for the AP and Coaches Polls.

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.