FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Behind one of the best scoring performances in program history, the University of Evansville women's basketball team fired on all cylinders in a second-half surge in an 84-71 victory over Purdue Fort Wayne on Wednesday afternoon in Fort Wayne, Ind.

In just her second game as an Ace, junior Je'Naiya Davis turned-in an historic scoring performance. Davis tallied 35 points in just 22 minutes on the court, setting the program record for most points scored by an Ace in a regulation game. Davis did so with a 16-point third quarter outburst, followed by another double-digit quarter in the fourth, tallying 10 points. Three other Aces finished in double-figures with junior Abby Feit recording her fourth double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 boards, senior Myia Clark with 11 points and seven rebounds, and junior A'Niah Griffin finishing with 10 points. The Mastodons were led by Sylare Starks with 23 points on the afternoon.

Despite an evenly played opening 20 minutes, the first half was a story of runs. After an early 5-5 tie, Purdue Fort Wayne scored eight of the next 10 points to take a 13-7 lead. The Aces would respond though, battling back with a 7-2 run to close the period with just a one-point deficit for Evansville.

It was a similar story in the second quarter as the 'dons jumped-out to a 28-17 lead, what would be its largest of the game, forcing an Evansville timeout with 6:45 left in the half. Challenged by Purdue Fort Wayne early in the second period, the Aces responded out of the timeout. Keyed by five points from Clark and four from freshman Elly Morgan, Evansville sprinted back into the contest and out in front, using a 16-0 run over the next 3:46 to turn the tables and secure a 33-28 lead and force a timeout from the Mastodons. An evenly played contest throughout the opening two stanzas, Purdue Fort Wayne battled back, taking a one-point, 36-35 lead to the break.

In the third quarter, the closely contested game continued with neither team able to open up larger than a five-point advantage. That was until the Je'Naiya Davis Show began with a little over five minutes left in the period. Over the final 5:35, Davis scored 16 points, keying a resurgence from Evansville that handed the Aces a lead as large as six at one point before grabbing a 61-57 lead heading into the fourth as part of UE's 26-point third period.

Fueled by Davis' offensive surge, the Aces built their lead to double-digits at 72-59 less than two minutes into the fourth quarter with Davis scoring the first five of the period to kick-off an 11-2 run. The Mastodons would close no nearer than seven points over the final eight minutes as Evansville's second-half offensive explosion powered UE to the 84-71 win.

Following a 29.4% shooting performance in the opening quarter, Evansville locked-in, shooting 25-51 (49.0%) over the next 30 minutes. Continuing the strong offensive outing, on the day, the Aces hit 13 three-pointers, their most in a game since March 14, 2019 and most in a true road game since Jan. 26, 2018.

The Aces now get a six-day break before returning home to face Murray State on Tuesday, Nov. 30 at 6 PM inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse in Evansville.
 

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