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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The 7^th seeded University of Evansville women's basketball team (11-18, 6-12) begins the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament when the Purple Aces play the #10 Illinois State Redbirds. The tip is set for 7:00 p.m. at the Family Arena in St. Charles, Mo.
 
UE is looking for their first conference tournament win since 2009 when the 9^th seeded Purple Aces won four games in four days to win the MVC Championship.
 
Guard Sara Dickey is also 17 points away from becoming the school's single-season scoring record holder (Shyla Puelston with 574 points in 1998-99).
 
The Aces enter this game after a home loss to Missouri State in the regular season finale last Saturday. Four UE players scored in double figures including a game-high 20 from Dickey. Freshman Peyton Langston tallied a career-high 12 points in the contest.
 
On the stat sheet, Evansville's Dickey (19.2 points per game), forward Mallory Ladd (14.2) and guard Khristian Hart (10.0) are all averaging double figures. Dickey also has the most assists (68) as Hart has totaled a team-best with 49 steals for UE this year. Ladd is notching a team-high 0.9 blocks per game. Forward Sasha Robinson is securing 7.9 rebounds per game, a team-high. UE is averaging 62.2 points and 32.4 rebounds per game. The Aces make 39.8% of their field goals, 35.2% of threes, and 65.8% at the free throw line.
 
Illinois State (2-27, 2-16) began the season with 19 straight losses before collecting their first win against Loyola on February 1. The Redbirds then went on another eight game losing skid before winning their last contest 69-54 at Southern Illinois on Saturday.
 
Statistically, guard Katy Winge paces the Redbirds offense with 11.3 points per game. Forward Octavia Crump is also averaging double figure points per game (10.8) this season. Crump's 5.8 rebounds per game also leads the team. Winge and guard Taylor Stewart each have a team-high 54 assists this year. Illinois State is averaging 52.4 points and 36.3 rebounds per game. The Redbirds shoot 33.9% from the floor, 27.6% beyond the arc, and 68.4% at the free throw line.
 
Evansville is projected to finish fourth in the MVC preseason poll, their highest projection since 2008-2009. Dickey was also named to the preseason All-Conference team. The Aces are guided by fourth year head coach Oties Epps. Illinois State was slated to finish eighth in the MVC preseason poll and did not have any players named to the preseason team. Barb Smith is the second year head coach of the Redbirds. Illinois State leads the all-time series 27-16 against Evansville but UE has won both meetings this season.
 
Tickets can be purchased over the phone at 812-488-ACES (2237), in person at either the Carson Center or online via Ticketmaster.com.