EVANSVILLE - After its youth starred against Murray State, the University of Evansville women's basketball team is back inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse for its home opener against Purdue Fort Wayne at 1 PM on Saturday afternoon.
 

Evansville vs. Purdue Fort Wayne | 1 PM
Date | Time	Sat., Dec. 5 | 1 PM
Location	Evansville, Ind.
Site	Meeks Family Fieldhouse
Sat., Dec. 5	Evansville vs. Purdue Fort Wayne
Follow Along	Live Stats | ESPN+
Evansville	Women's Basketball Site | Twitter | Game Notes | Program

Last Time Out: Murray State 84, Evansville 61

• In its season opener, the University of Evansville women's basketball team was led by its underclassmen in an 84-61 loss to Murray State on Tuesday evening in Murray, Ky.
• In all, 35 of Evansville's 61 points were scored by underclassmen with freshman Rylie Stephens leading the way with 14 points, while adding seven boards. Stephens 14 points mark the fourth-straight season opener in which a newcomer has led Evansville in scoring as the Fairland, Ind. native went 6-of-9 from the floor on the evening. Joining Stephens in double figures was sophomore Abby Feit, who finished with 10 points and five rebounds.
• After Evansville held a 9-4 lead early on, a Murray State 12-2 run was key for the Racers as they never relinquished lead after their early spree.
• Evansville recorded eight blocks against the Racers, the most UE has tallied since last season's game against Murray State on Dec. 3, when the Aces also finished with eight blocks.

Newcomers Lead the Way

• Freshman Rylie Stephens opened her collegiate career with an impressive performance on Tuesday against Murray State. Stephens scored a team-high 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds. 
• Stephens performance marked the fourth-straight Ace season-opener in which a newcomer has led Evansville in scoring, following Abby Feit (26 points) in 2019-20, Makayla Wallace (16 points) in 2018-19, and Hannah Noe (33 points) in 2017-18.

Looking to Limit Turnovers

• Evansville will look to limit its turnovers on Saturday against a Purdue Fort Wayne team that excelled at causing turnovers early in the season. 
• The Mastodons recorded 18 steals and 28 total turnovers against SIUE on Nov. 25.
• The 18 steals per game currently place Purdue Fort Wayne in second in the nation.

Previewing the Mastodons

• Evansville and Purdue Fort Wayne are meeting for the fifth time in series history with the Mastodons owning a 3-1 lead in the all-time series.
• The Mastodons captured last season's matchup, 67-64, on a three-pointer in the final 30 seconds in a comeback win for Purdue Fort Wayne on Dec. 13, 2019.
• Last time the two squads met inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse, the Mastodons defeated the Aces, 72-66, in a close contest on Nov. 20, 2018.
• The frontcourt duo of Jada Poland and Abby Feit poured in a combined 30 points and pulled down 16 rebounds for the Aces in last season's matchup with Purdue Fort Wayne.
• From last season's matchup, Evansville returns 63 of its 64 points scored, while Purdue Fort Wayne returns just 21 of its 67 points.
• Purdue Fort Wayne comes into the game with an 0-1 record after falling in their season opener, 66-50, to SIUE at home on Nov. 25.
• The Mastodons were led in their lone game by Hannah Hess, who scored a game-high 18 points, hitting four three-pointers.
• Purdue Fort Wayne closed last season 313th in scoring offense, averaging 57.3 points per game. This season, in the Mastodons lone game, they scored 50 points.
• Just one of Purdue Fort Wayne's top four scorers return this season as Riley Ott finished third in points per game for the Mastodons in 2019-20.

 

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