Game Notes
EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- The University of Evansville women’s basketball team looks to capture a series sweep over Bradley when they travel to Peoria, Ill. Thursday night. The Aces overcame the Braves, 71-59, at the Ford Center Jan. 8
th and hope to repeat when UE kicks off the second half of the Missouri Valley Conference. Tip-off at Renaissance Coliseum is set for 7:00 p.m. CT. Evansville will also take on Northern Iowa Saturday at 7:00 p.m.
CATCH THE ACTION
EVANSVILLE (4-16, 1-8 MVC) – The Aces come off a 74-60 loss to travel partner Southern Illinois in last week’s lone game. Evansville hopes to put an end to their five-game losing streak and capture its first road victory of the season. Leading the way for UE offensively is junior forward
Samantha Heck and senior guard
Briyana Blair. Heck averages 13.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, while Blair nearly averages a double-double with 10.7 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. Juniors
Meagan Collins (8.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg) and
Taylor Ware (6.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg) have also been steady contributors on the scoring end.
BRADLEY (11-10, 2-7 MVC) – The Braves are also looking to snap a losing streak, falling in their last three contests. Bradley comes off last week’s losses at Drake (77-62) and Creighton (72-68). Senior Leah Kassing leads the team averaging 14.6 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. Katie Yohn, who is shooting .434 percent from three-point range, making 46 on the year, is also averaging double figures with 13.1 points per game.
NORTHERN IOWA (13-7, 6-3 MVC) – The Panthers will take on Southern Illinois Thursday night before meeting the Aces on Saturday. UNI comes off a 82-77 overtime win at Drake after falling at Creighton, 65-50. Katelin Oney leads a cast of three players that are averaging double figures with 13.1 points per game. K.K. Armstrong (12.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg), Rachel Madrigal (12.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg), and Amber Kirschbaum (9.4 ppg, 7.4 rpg) have also been consistent offensive threats.
THE COACHES
OTIES EPPS, (Wisconsin-Stout, ’02) 1st season at UE, 4-16 record
Epps is in his first season as Evansville’s head coach. Epps spent the last three seasons at the University of Wisconsin where he helped lead the Badgers to a 56-31 record and three postseason appearances. Wisconsin played in the WNIT in 2009 and 2011, and earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament in 2010 for the first time since 2002.
PAULA BUSCHER, (Missouri State, ‘86), 12th season at Bradley, 160-182 record
The longest tenured coach in program history, Buscher's Braves have had five or more league wins in 11 consecutive seasons, marking the first time that has been accomplished and the team's 30 league victories over the last three seasons are the most in a three-year stretch since the early 1990's. Buscher's squads have finished seventh or better in seven of the last 10 seasons and posted a 79-101 (.439) record in Valley play during that span after posting a 23-67 (.256) record in conference play in the five seasons prior to her arrival.
TANYA WARREN, (Creighton,’88), 5th season at Northern Iowa, 81-66 record
The 2011 Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year, Warren has led the Panthers to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances and the program's first-ever regular-season MVC title. In 2010-11, she guided the Panthers to a 27-6 overall record and a 17-1 Valley record as UNI finished the conference season five games better than the second-place teams. UNI won the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament for the second-straight year, earning the school's second NCAA Tournament appearance.
A WIN OVER BU WOULD…
Make UE 5-16 on the season … Make UE 2-8 in the MVC … Make UE 17-21 vs. BU all-time … Make UE 446-565 all-time.
A LOSS TO BU WOULD…
Make UE 4-17 on the season … Make UE 1-9 in the MVC … Make UE 16-22 vs. BU all-time … Make UE 445-566 all-time.
KEEP THE BROOMS HANDY
The last time UE beat Bradley in both regular season meetings was in the 2007-08 season; the same year the Aces captured the MVC regular-season championship. UE has the opportunity for a series sweep Thursday.
BUILDING BLOCKS
In her third season of play, Samantha Heck is climbing up Evansville’s career blocks list, totaling 46 so far. She currently ranks 9th all-time and needs three more to move up another spot.
DOUBLE THE FUN
Senior Briyana Blair has single handedly recorded more double-doubles in one season than the entire UE team logged in the last two years. Versus Southern Illinois on Sunday, Blair achieved her sixth double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds. In the 2010-11 season, the team combined for three double-doubles, while they recorded zero in 2009-10. Blair has the most double-doubles in a single season since Jamie Gray logged 12 in 2003-04.
HECK OF A GAME
In UE’s lone game of the week, junior Samantha Heck led Evansville with 21 points, matching her career-high, while also grabbing nine rebounds and adding two assists, a block, and a steal. Heck scored nine of the Aces’ first 10 points of the contest, including the first seven. She also took a career-high 10 free throws, making a career-high seven from the line. On the season, Heck pilots the Aces offensively with 13.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.
STARTING LINE
Evansville has used five different starting lineups this season with point guard
Staci Gillum and forward Samantha Heck serving as the only players to start all 20 games. Heck has started 31 games consecutively for the Aces; the longest streak among active players.
MIRANDA RIGHTS
Sophomore
Miranda Liles had a career game versus Missouri State (1/21), co-leading Evansville with 11 points, which surpassed her previous career-high of nine points set against the Lady Bears last season (3/3/11). Liles also matched career bests in rebounds (4), field goals made (3), and steals (1). In addition, the Alabama native made a season-high four free throws (4-of-5), coming off the bench for 20 minutes of action.
HOOPS FOR THE CURE SET FOR FEB. 12
What has become a tradition of the last decade, the University of Evansville women’s basketball team will host the 10th annual Hoops For The Cure game Sunday February 12th, when the Purple Aces host Drake University. Tipoff at the Ford Center is set for 1:00 p.m. CT. Hoops For The Cure is a collaborative partnership between the UE athletics department, UE women’s basketball program, and the Greater Evansville Affiliate of Susan G. Komen For The Cure, which is designed to help raise awareness for the fight against breast cancer. Tickets for the 2012 Hoops For The Cure will be discounted to $5.00, with half of the ticket proceeds going to Susan G. Komen For The Cure to aid in breast cancer research. T-shirts will be available for $10 and tons of great prizes will be auctioned off with all proceeds being donated to the foundation. The Lady Aces will trade in their normal home white jerseys for ones with a pink twist, while fans are also highly encouraged to wear pink in support of the cause.
ESPN 3
Evansville’s game vs. Drake on Feb. 12 will be aired on ESPN 3.
WOOAH WE’RE HALF WAY THERE
The Aces will play the Valley foes for the second time around starting this week at Bradley and Northern Iowa. UE beat BU, 71-59, at the Ford Center on Jan. 8th, and fell to UNI, 61-51, on Jan. 5th. The last time UE went into the second half of the season with a 1-8 record was in the 2009-10 season.
QUEEN OF THE GLASS
Entering the week, Briyana Blair ranks 37th in the nation, and second in the MVC averaging 9.6 rebounds per game. Blair’s 20 rebounds in UE’s last outing vs. Bradley not only represented a career-high, but also marked the first time a player has pulled down 20 or more boards in a game since 1998, when Shyla McKibbon tallied 23, also versus Bradley.
STOP THIEF!
Briyana Blair is the MVC’s leading thief and ranks 71st in the nation averaging 2.6 steals per game. In just a season and a half, Blair has recorded 120 career steals. She is 19 steals away from breaking into UE’s career top-ten and tying Angie McGrew (1986-89) with 139. Last season, Blair logged 71 steals, ranking her sixth in UE’s single-season record book. She is currently 11 steals away from breaking into the single-season top 10 again, swiping 49 so far this year.
HECK OF A STREAK
Samantha Heck extended her double-figure point streak to 14 games vs. Wichita State, scoring all 10 points in the second half. Heck owns the longest double-digit streak since Meagan Liffick in the 2005-06 season when Liffick scored 10 or more points in the first 19 games of the year and in 28-of-29 games. However, the streak has come to an end at 14 for Heck, after Missouri State (1/21) held her to four points.
FALKENSTEIN OUT
Senior
Chelsea Falkenstein will be out the remainder of the season with a torn ACL. Falkenstein injured her knee in UE’s game at UT Martin on Dec. 16. Because she missed two games earlier this season due to a concussion suffered versus Ball State on Nov. 29, she is eligible to redshirt. Falkenstein averaged 3.6 points and 5.5 rebounds before the season-ending injury. She had surgery on Friday, Jan. 20th.
UGH, NOT AGAIN
Freshman
Kat Taylor will also be out the remainder of the season due to a torn ACL occurring in practice on Monday, Jan. 16th. Taylor played in 13 games in her rookie campaign, averaging 1.8 points, and 1.1 rebounds.
UNDER 60
When the Aces hold their opponents to fewer than 60 points a game, Evansville owns a winning record (4-3), and when they hold them to under 50 points, UE is a perfect 2-0. On the other hand, when opponents score 60 points or more, UE is 0-13.
THE IMPORTANCE OF A GOOD START
When Evansville leads at halftime, the Aces have held on to win every game with a 3-0 record. On the other hand, when UE is trailing at the half, they are 0-14. When the score is tied at the break, they are 1-2.
CLUTCH FREEBIES
Down the stretch versus Bradley, Evansville made 12-of-14 free throws, led by Heck’s 7-for-8 performance, when BU was forced to foul in attempts to gain possession.
BOX OUT, GO GET IT
Rebounding has proven to be one of the most important factors in winning or losing a basketball game. For the Aces, the squad is 4-7 when they win the battle of the boards and are undefeated when the positive margin is five or greater, with the exception of UE’s last game vs. SIU in which they outrebounded the Salukis 38-33 but lost. UE is 0-9 when they get outrebounded.
HOT SHOTS
Against UT Martin, Evansville recorded its highest field goal percentage, 55.8 percent (29-for-52), since the Aces shot 56.7 percent against Bradley on Feb. 2, 2004 (81-65 win). It also marked the first times UE has broken the 50 percent mark, since Jan. 26, 2008 when the Aces shot 53.4 percent versus Southern Illinois (77-67 win). On the season, UE is shooting 35.8 percent from the field.
VALLEY PLAY
The Aces own a 114-201 all-time record in the Missouri Valley Conference, since joining the league in the 1994-95 season. Evansville looks to get back to the results the Aces had from 2005-08, in which UE had four straight winning records. In the 2008-09 season, UE won the conference tournament despite a 4-14 regular season mark in the MVC, winning four straight contests in St. Charles, Mo.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Briyana Blair leads UE with six double-doubles this season: Brown (11 pts, 14 rebs) on Nov. 25, Eastern Kentucky (17 pts, 10 rebs) on Dec. 2, Illinois State (11 pts, 14 rebs) on Jan. 1, Bradley (19 pts, 20 rebs), and Drake (13 pts, 14 rebs), SIU (10 pts, 10 rebs). Samantha Heck recorded her first of the year vs. Wichita State (10 pts, 10 rebs), marking the third of her career. Meagan Collins is also a part of the three-person club with double-doubles to their name, tallying one in 2010-11
LEAGUE LEADERS
Blair – 1st – steals – 2.6/game
Blair – 1st – assists – 4.5/game
Blair – 2nd – defensive rebounds – 7.4/game
Blair – 2nd – rebounding – 9.6/game
Blair – 4th – assist/turnover ratio – 1.1
Heck – 9th – points – 13.5/game
Blair – 9th – blocks – 0.9/game
Heck – 10th – free throw % –.734
Heck – 10th – offensive rebounds – 2.4/game
Blair – 10th – minutes played – 30.9/game
1,000 GAMES
UE’s game at UT Martin (12/16) marked the 1,000th game in program history. The Aces currently own a 445-563 (.443) all-time record dating back to the 1969-70 season -- UE’s first year of women’s basketball.
ADLARD TO HALL OF FAME
A class of 11 women and men who have made significant contributions to Indiana high school basketball will be welcomed as inductees when the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame celebrates their 11th Women’s Induction Class on April 28, 2012. Among those inductees is UE’s all-time leading scorer, Shelly Brand Adlard. Adlard racked up 1,713 points in her career as a Purple Ace and also graduated as the school’s all-time leader in assists, steals, field goals made, and free throws made. Currently, she still holds the record for field goals (718), now ranks third in assists (448), sixth in steals (164) and seventh in free throws made (277). In addition, she was the NCAA Division I national free throw percentage leader in the 1983-84 season.
OTIES EPPS SHOW
“The Oties Epps Show,” hosted by Mike Radomski airs live from the UE Bookstore in the Ridgway University Center on the UE campus from 12-12:30 p.m. on Tuesday afternoons. Fans are invited and encouraged to come out and be a part of the show and meet the coaches and players of the UE women’s basketball team. Fans can also listen in online at both wuev.org and GoPurpleAces.com.
LADD COMES HOME
Arguably one of the best players to come out of Memorial High School, Mallory Ladd has decided to transfer from Valparaiso University back home to play for Coach Oties Epps and the University of Evansville Purple Aces. Ladd, who scored 1,803 points in her high school career and grabbed a school-record 1,163 rebounds, led Memorial to the 3A state championship with a 28-1 mark in her senior year. She was named Indiana Miss Basketball runner-up and was a first team all-state selection in 2011 by the Associated Press and Hoosier Basketball Magazine. In the first month of the 2011-12 season, the 6’1 freshman forward played in six games with the Crusaders, averaging 10.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, also shooting 91.3 percent (21-23) from the free throw line. As per NCAA transfer rules, Ladd will have to sit out one year, but will be eligible to join the Aces on the court in the second semester of the 2012-13 season.
ACES SIGN TWO FOR 2012-13
Oties Epps announced on Nov. 9 the signing of two high school standouts to National Letters of Intent. Guard Laura Friday (Marion, Ind./Marion) and forward Michaela Prough (Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point) will make up the Lady Aces’ freshman class for the 2012-13 season.
