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Game Notes
The University of Evansville womens’ basketball team continues MVC play with Drake Sunday at 1:00pm CST at Roberts Stadium. The Bulldogs lead the all-time series between the squads, 26-10, including wins in the last six. The Aces’ last win over Drake was a 69-66 overtime victory at the Knapp Center, Feb. 14, 2008. The last time Evansville beat the Bulldogs at home was Jan. 20, 2008 (62-57). Here’s a brief look at Sunday’s matchup:
EVANSVILLE (6-8, 1-2 MVC) - UE comes off Thursday’s home 81-55 loss to Creighton. Senior Sophomore Meagan Collins led the Evansville effort with 11 points, six rebounds, and three assists. Junior Staci Gillum added nine points, including a four-for-four performance from the free throw line, while all 11 Aces tallied at least one basket in the loss. Sophomore Samantha Heck leads the Aces, averaging 10.7 points per game (11.3 in conference) and 5.6 rebounds per game.
DRAKE (7-6, 1-1 MVC) - The Bulldogs come into Sunday’s game off a 70-57 win over Southern Illinois. Junior forward Rachael Hackbarth powered Drake in the win with 18 points and a career-high 18 rebounds, while Krisitn Turk tallied 21 points. On the season, Turk leads the Bulldogs with19.1 points per game, while Hackbarth adds 13.5 points and 7.4 rebounds on average.
A UE WIN OVER DRAKE WOULD…
Make UE 7-8 ... Improve coach Misty Murphy’s record to 26-53 at UE and 134-118 overall … Make UE 440-535 all-time.
A UE LOSS TO DRAKE WOULD…
Make UE 6-9 … Drop coach Murphy’s record at UE to 25-54 and 133-119 overall … Make UE 439-536 all-time.
BUCKETS ALL AROUND
Against Creighton, all 11 Aces scored at least one basket in the loss.
GROWING LIKE A WEED
Freshman Hannah Weedman played a career-high 16 minutes against Creighton and recorded her first college points, tallying four on a basket and two free throws, while also adding a rebound and an assist.
TREY BIEN ELLERSON
Against Missouri State, freshman Katie Ellerson scored a career-high 12 points with four three-pointers. The Wisconsin native sparked a 13-2 run with three consecutive makes from behind the arc. Ellerson’s 22 minutes on the floor was also a career-high, with her previous being 13 at Green Bay.
BAM!
Senior Stephanie Bamberger matched her career-high 17 points in UE’s first MVC game of the season, piloting the Aces to a 74-66 victory over Wichita State. Bamberger shot a perfect three-for-three from behind the arc and six-for-six from the free throw line, while shooting 80.0 percent from the field (4-for-5). Against Missouri State, the Kettering, Ohio native led the Aces with seven rebounds, while also recording six points, three steals, a block, and an assist. On the season, Bamberger leads the Aces with 21 threes.
“BLAIR” IT UP
Junior Briyana Blair averaged 10.0 points during the opening weekend of Valley play, including 13 points in Evansville’s 74-66 victory over Wichita State. The Miami (Fla.) transfer made a huge impact in the closing minutes, hitting a free throw and fast break layup to give the Aces a four-point lead with one minute remaining. She then recorded her third steal of the game, forcing Wichita to intentionally put the Aces at the free throw line. Against Missouri State, Blair tallied two blocks, six rebounds and seven points, including a basket in the second half that cut the Bears’ lead to two after the Aces were trailing by as much as 17 in the first half. Blair also recorded ten assists and six steals across the two games.
GETTING TO THE LINE
Briyana Blair’s 60 attempts at the foul line is more than twice as many chances as any of her teammates. Although Blair is shooting just 57.6 percent at the charity stripe (34-for-59) her aggressive drives to the basket have been putting opponents in foul trouble and allowing the Aces to get into bonus early. Against Wichita State, Blair had nine attempts at the line, as the Shockers were called for 24 fouls, compared to the Aces’ 12. Meagan Colins leads UE, shooting 76.7 percent (23-for-30) at the free throw line.
BALANCE, EYES, ELBOW, FOLLOW THROUGH
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 6-4 record. When they shoot below 60% they are winless (0-4).
LOSS OF LEWIS
Jordan Lewis will be out for the rest of the season due to a torn ACL and MCL, happening in practice on Wednesday, December 15th. The junior guard started every game for the Aces this season up until the injury, averaging 7.2 points per game and 28.0 minutes on the court, while also adding 25 assists and 11 steals.
NOT IN MY HOUSE
Junior Chelsea Falkenstein ranks fifth in the MVC in blocked shots, totaling 18 on the year and averaging 1.29 per game. With 40 in her career, she passed Kathie Layden’s 39 (1994-98) and broke into Evansville’s career top-10 after recording two at Missouri State.
WHAT THE HECK?
Sophomore Samantha Heck has scored double figure points in seven of the Aces’ games this season, including three of the past four games. She leads the Aces, averaging 11.3 points in conference play.
DOUBLE THE FUN
Samantha Heck is the only current Lady Ace who was a double-double written on her resume. 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.
PHOTO FINISHES
Seven of the Aces’ 14 contests this season have been decided by three or less points, with Evansville going 3-4 in those one possession games.
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 has been their only all year. BGSU currently stands with a 13-1 record, ranked second in the CollegeInsider.com’s Mid-Major Poll (behind Green Bay), 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.
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.
OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN
This year’s team captains, decided on by the team and coaches are senior Stephanie Bamberger, Chelsea Falkenstein and Staci Gillum.
