Game Notes
EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- 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, welcoming Drake University to Ford Center for a 1:00 p.m. CT tip-off. Wearing pink, Evansville looks to counter its, 67-53, loss in Des Moines on Jan. 14, and make ground in the all-time series that the Bulldogs lead, 29-10. Drake has won each of the last nine meetings.
CATCH THE ACTION
TICKETS - $5 General Admission
HOOPS FOR THE CURE
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. Half of ticket proceeds and all proceeds from t-shirt sales and auctioned items will be donated to Susan G. Komen For The Cure to aid in breast cancer research. 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.
EVANSVILLE (5-18, 2-10 MVC) – The Aces come off Thursday afternoon’s exciting, 48-45, win over Creighton, which snapped UE’s seven-game losing streak. The Aces look to capture back-to-back wins today for the first time this season. On the year, junior
Samantha Heck and senior guard
Briyana Blair lead the team offensively. Heck averages 13.3 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, while Blair nearly averages a double-double with 10.4 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. Juniors
Meagan Collins (8.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg) and
Taylor Ware (6.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg) have also been steady contributors on the scoring end.
DRAKE (11-12, 5-7 MVC) –The Bulldogs enter Sunday’s contest amidst a four-game losing streak, falling most recently at Southern Illinois Thursday, 63-59, despite owning a nine-point lead at halftime. Drake’s offense revolves around senior Rachael Hackbarth who average 19.9 points and 11.0 rebounds per game. Kyndal Clark (9.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg) and Brittnye McSparron (9.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg) have also been other scoring options for the Bulldogs.
THE COACHES
OTIES EPPS, (Wisconsin-Stout, ’02) 1st season at UE, 5-18 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.
AMY STEPHENS, (Nebraska, ’91), 9th season at DU, 144-126 record
Since her appointment in 2003, the Bulldogs have won 144 games and a Missouri Valley Conference championship, in addition to earning an NCAA Tournament berth in 2007 and three WNIT berths. Under Stephens' direction, Drake became the Valley's most successful team during the last decade (Jan. 1, 2000 - Dec. 31, 2009). The Bulldogs amassed a conference-best 191-119 (.616) record during that time.
A WIN OVER DRAKE WOULD…
Make UE 6-18 on the season … Make UE 3-10 in the MVC … Make UE 11-29 vs. DU all-time … Make UE 447-567 all-time.
A LOSS TO DRAKE WOULD…
Make UE 5-19 on the season … Make UE 2-11 in the MVC … Make UE 10-30 vs. CU all-time … Make UE 446-568 all-time.
THE SERIES
Drake leads the all-time series, 29-10, topping Evansville in the last nine meetings. UE’s last win over the Bulldogs was an overtime victory, 69-66, in Des Moines on Feb. 14, 2008. The Aces won both regular season meetings that year, also topping Drake, 62-57, at home on Jan. 20. However, in their third meeting of ’08, Drake edged UE, 61-58, in the semi-finals of the MVC Tournament, marking their first of the streak that goes till this day.
LAST TIME OUT
With the support of nearly 3,000 cheering elementary school students, the University of Evansville women’s basketball team overcame the visiting Creighton Bluejays, 48-45, Thursday early afternoon at the Ford Center. With 1:32 remaining, Meagan Collins took a feed from senior Staci Gillum and knocked down a three in the left corner to give Evansville a 47-45 lead. At the other end, Ally Jensen’s layup wouldn’t fall and Collins secured the rebound, forcing the Bluejays to foul with 6.1 seconds left. The Boonville, Ind. native made the first, allowing the Aces to breathe easier, but missed the second, giving Creighton a chance for the tie. Carli Tritz, CU’s leading rainmaker, put up a shot from beyond the arc, but the ball bounced off the back rim as the buzzer sounded, locking up the win for Evansville --
UE’s first victory over Creighton since the No. 9 Aces beat the No. 2 Jays, 47-45, in the title game of the 2009 MVC Tournament Championship. Collins piloted the Aces’ offense with 18 points, going 6-for-8 from the floor, and grabbed seven rebounds. Briyana Blair also reached double figures with 11 points and seven rebounds, followed by Samantha Heck’s eight points and five boards. Sophomore Miranda Liles had another solid game with five points and seven rebounds in a career-high 38 minutes on the floor, while Gillum recorded a game-high six assists.
FAST B.R.E.A.K.
Nearly 3,000 students from the local school districts were in attendance at UE’s game vs. Creighton as part of the Future Purple Aces Fast B.R.E.A.K. (Basketball Reinforcing Education to Area Kids) program. The program helps young kids apply the subject of math to real-life situations using the game of basketball. UE has won their last two Fast B.R.E.A.K. games, topping CU this year and edged Butler, 51-49 (12/7) in 2010.
CALLING ON COLLINS
Junior
Meagan Collins has scored double-digit points in each of the last four games, marking the only Ace to do so. She has also been UE’s leading scorer in the last two games, logging 14 points and nine rebounds at Northern Iowa (2/4) and 18 points and seven boards in UE’s win over Creighton (2/9). Collins leads UE with a .364 (24-66) three-point percentage on the season, while averaging 9.4 points and 4.6 rebounds per game in Valley contests.
BACK ON THE WINNING TRACK
Evansville’s victory over Creighton ended a 31-day winless drought. Prior to Thursday, the Aces’ last victory was over Bradley on Jan. 8th in which UE topped the Braves, 71-59 at Ford Center. UE looks to earn consecutive wins this weekend for the first time since last season when Evansville beat Eastern Washington in Boulder, Colo. on Nov. 27, 2010 and then returned home to top Valparaiso, 69-67, on Dec 4.
NUMBER CHANGES
Due to the Aces wearing pink uniforms, a couple players will be donning a different number for the game. Staci Gillum will trade #14 for #2. Hannah Weedman will be #30 instead of #32, and Juliann Miller will wear #34 instead of her usual #33.
A STREAK-FREE SHINE
Evansville dominated the glass at Northern Iowa (2/4), outrebounding the Panthers 42-29 while outscoring UNI 14-0 on second chances. The +13 rebounding margin matched a season-best for the Aces, done twice before in wins over Eastern Kentucky (12/2) and Murray State (12/10).
BUILDING BLOCKS
In her third season of play,
Samantha Heck is climbing up Evansville’s career blocks list, totaling 51 so far. She currently ranks 8th all-time, moving up a spot after recording three vs. Creighton (2/9), and needs four more to tie Kathy Sloan (1985-87) and five more to match inactive teammate
Chelsea Falkenstein (56).
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.
CLOSE, BUT NO CIGAR
Battling back from a 15-point second-half deficit, Evansville had a chance to tie the game at UNI (2/4) in the final 30 seconds of play, but sophomore Miranda Liles’ three bounced off the back rim and the hosting Panthers converted free throws in the final seconds to edge the Aces, 58-53, at McLeod Center. Three Evansville players reached double figures led by junior Meagan Collins’ 14 points and nine rebounds and classmate Samantha Heck’s 12 points and nine boards. In her second career start, Liles tallied 11 points and five rebounds. For the third straight game, senior Briyana Blair reached double-digits on the glass, grabbing 10 boards in addition to logging eight points. Katelin Oney led UNI with 16 points.
GOOD GAME GILLUM
Senior point guard Staci Gillum nearly recorded her first career double-double at Bradley (2/2) with nine points and career-high eight assists
CASHING IN AT THE CHARITY STRIPE
After shooting 2-for-8 (25.0%) from the free throw line in the first half at Bradley (2/2), the Aces pulled it together in the second period, making 9-of-10 (90.0%). Samantha Heck has made eight consecutive free throws after making her last two at BU, went 6-for-6 at UNI (2/4), and didn’t get to the line vs. Creighton. She leads the team with a .753 percentage at the line.
HALFTIME LEADS
In back-to-back games, Evansville broke trends both ways regarding halftime leads. Prior to last Saturday’s game at UNI, the Aces had held on to win every game with a 3-0 record when owning an advantage at the break, and held an 0-15 mark when trailing at the half. However, UE lost to the Panthers despite a four-point lead (27-23) at halftime and then topped Creighton after trailing by two (21-19) at the break. When the score is tied at intermission, the Aces are 1-2.
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 Jan. 29th, 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.
STARTING LINE
Evansville has used seven different starting lineups this season with point guard Staci Gillum and forward Samantha Heck serving as the only players to start all 23 games. Heck has started 34 games consecutively for the Aces; the longest streak among active players. For the first time in nine games, Coach Epps changed the lineup at Bradley (2/2), swapping in Miranda Liles for Meagan Collins in the forward position. The lineup changed again at UNI (2/4) with Liles staying and Collins replacing Blair who had started the previous ten straight games.
MIRANDA RIGHTS
Sophomore
Miranda Liles as shown rapid growth in the last month, as she made her first career start at Bradley (2/2), and scored nine points in a then career-high 32 minutes of play. In her second start at UNI (2/4), Liles also had a career game with five rebounds and matched a best 11 points in 36 minutes on the floor. In UE’s last game vs. Creighton, Liles started and played 38 minutes, grabbing a career-high seven rebounds and scored five points. In the last three games, Liles is averaging 8.3 points and 4.7 rebounds.
HECK OF A LEADER
Sam Heck has been UE’s leading point scorer 13 times this season and has reached double figures 43 times in her career.
HECK OF A STREAK
Samantha Heck extended her double-figure point streak to 14 games vs. Wichita State (1/19), 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 came to an end after 14 when Missouri State (1/21) held her to four points.
QUEEN OF THE GLASS
Entering the week,
Briyana Blair ranks 31st in the nation and second in the MVC, averaging 9.7 rebounds per game. Blair’s 20 rebounds in UE’s first outing vs. Bradley (1/8) 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. Blair has recorded double figure rebounds nine times this season.
STOP THIEF!
Briyana Blair is the MVC’s third-leading thief and ranks 70th in the nation averaging 2.6 steals per game. In just a season and a half, Blair has recorded 125 career steals. She is 12 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 4 steals away from breaking into the single-season top 10 again, swiping 56 so far this year.
IT’S MILLER TIME
Returning to the floor after an exactly one month hiatus, due to illness, freshman Juliann Miller had a breakout game versus Wichita State (1/19), recording career-highs for points (10), field goals (3), threes (1), free throws (3), rebounds (2), steals (1), and minutes played (28). Prior, to that contest, the Louisville, Ky. native last made an appearance at Mizzou on Dec. 19th.
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 4-8 when they win the battle of the boards and are undefeated when the positive margin is five or greater, with the exceptions of UE’s game vs. SIU (1/29) and UNI (2/4), in which UE outrebounded the Salukis, 38-33, and the Panthers, 42-29, but still lost. UE is 1-10 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 36.3 percent from the field.
VALLEY PLAY
The Aces own a 115-203 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
1,000 GAMES
UE’s game at UT Martin (12/16) marked the 1,000th game in program history. The Aces currently own a 446-567 (.440) all-time record dating back to the 1969-70 season -- UE’s first year of women’s basketball.
LEAGUE LEADERS
Blair – 2nd – assists – 4.2/game
Blair – 2nd – defensive rebounds – 7.3/game
Blair – 2nd – rebounding – 9.7/game
Blair – 3rd – steals – 2.6/game
Blair – 4th – assist/turnover ratio – 1.1
Heck – 8th – points – 13.5/game
Heck – 8th – free throw % –.753
Blair – 9th – blocks – 0.9/game
Heck – 9th – offensive rebounds – 2.4/game
Gillum – 10th – assists – 2.8/game
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.
O CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN
Senior
Staci Gillum and junior
Samantha Heck have been named the 2011-12 team captains for the University of Evansville women’s basketball team. Gillum, a native of West Des Moines, Iowa, served as the Purple Aces’ captain and point guard last season, averaging 4.2 points and 2.6 rebounds per game, playing in all 30 contests. A transfer from Kirkwood Community College, Gillum was also a captain and led the Eagles to a 73-2 overall record and a pair of national titles in her two years, while also earning NJCAA All-America honors. Heck, an Auxvasse, Mo. native, led the team with 4.9 rebounds per game and finished second on the squad with 9.3 points per game in her sophomore season, while also recording two double-doubles. As a freshman, Heck recorded over 200 points and 100 rebounds in her rookie season, ranking second on the team in both categories at 7.1 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.
