EVANSVILLE - Closing-out the non-conference slate, the University of Evansville women's basketball team takes the short trip north to take on Butler on Wednesday at Noon (CT) inside Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind.
Previewing the Matchup: Butler
- Old rivals in the Midwestern City Conference, Evansville and Butler meet for the 38th time in series history on Wednesday with the Bulldogs owning a 21-16 advantage in the all-time series.
- The two sides have not met in over a decade, last doing battle on Dec. 7, 2010 with the Aces grabbing a 51-49 win in Evansville.
- The Aces are in the midst of their best start since the 2008-09 season, the last time Evansville won six non-conference contests. The 2008-09 Aces would go on to win the MVC Tournament and advance to the NCAA Tournament.
- Butler enters the matchup with an 0-10 record having faced some stout competition to open the season with three opponents inside the top 60 in NET.
- Evansville's 30-point win over Morehead State on Dec. 11 represented the Aces first 30-point or more win over a fellow NCAA Division I side since its 76-42 win over Chicago State on Dec. 18, 2019.
- Wednesday's game begins a three-game road trip for Evansville that features the end of non-con play and the beginning of its MVC slate. The next home game for Evansville is not until January 7.
Last Game: Evansville 79, Morehead State 49
- From start to finish, the University of Evansville women's basketball team took control early and never relinquished in a 79-49 win over Morehead State on Ugly Christmas Sweater Day on Saturday afternoon inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse in Evansville, Ind.
- "Our girls did a good job of staying sharp and they made a nice little run on us and they just answered right back and got that back up to a big lead and I'm just really happy with how everyone played today," said Aces head women's basketball coach Robyn Scherr-Wells in her postgame interview with ESPN3. "All 14 of our players play so hard day in and day out and there's not a lot that separates our players. I love the energy that our bench has. Our team, they are all in it together and they all pull for each other, so its really awesome to see a few players come in and have some success that haven't had a chance to play as much."
- 10 of the 13 Aces that saw the floor in the ballgame scored, led by four in double-figures. Both senior Myia Clark and junior Abby Feit finished the contest with a game-high 15 points as many of the Aces starters got much-welcomed rest as both Clark and Feit played 24 minutes on the afternoon. Also in double-digits for the Aces were junior Je'Naiya Davis with 12 points and senior Anna Newman finishing just one shy of a dozen points. For the Eagles, both Terri Smith and Alana Denson led the team with 11 points.
- It was a blistering pace early for the Aces as Evansville rushed out to an 11-4 lead, highlighted by a triple from Abby Feit. Morehead State did not let the Aces break away too far in the opening moments, keeping withing single digits despite a difficult shooting performance to begin the game as Evansville held a 19-10 advantage after one quarter.
- The second quarter was dominated by the Aces with Evansville opened up its advantage over the Eagles. The Aces shot nearly 50% (14-29) from the field in the first 20 minutes and knocked-down all eight free throws they attempted, along with a stifling defensive effort in the second period that saw Morehead State shoot just 20% (3-15) from the field. As the final seconds ticked away in the first half, freshman Kodie Myszka grabbed a rebound and quickly tapped it in to hand the Aces their largest lead of the half with a 41-19 lead at the break.
- Continuing to utilize its depth as a strength, Evansville played 11 players in the third quarter and even held serve with the Eagles for most of the half, provided by terrific efforts of the bench from Elly Morgan, Jossie Hudson, NaTaya Partee, and many others. The Aces lead diminished by just one in the third quarter as Evansville carried a 60-39 lead into the final stanza.
- In the fourth, the starters returned to the floor and fueled by the strong performances by their teammates, picked right back up from where they left off. An 11-2 run to open the quarter, created by Newman, Davis, and Clark, helped Evansville lift its advantage over the 30-point mark at 70-39 with 7:35 remaining in the contest. After the starters exited the contest for the final time, the Aces depth showed again as Hudson and junior Sydney Thurwalker both continued Evansville's strong play. The duo entered the contest and immediately went to work, manufacturing a 6-0 run that was capped-off by a layup from Thurwalker that sent the bench and crowd into a frenzy as Evansville's lead reached its largest point of the night at 79-44, forcing a Morehead State timeout, as the Aces went on to capture the team-created victory with a 30-point margin.
- The win marked the 150th win of the head coaching career of Robyn Scherr-Wells and also marked Evansville's sixth of the non-conference slate, its most since the 2008-09 campaign.
Playing Fast
- As Evansville closes-out the non-conference slate, the Aces have put up some impressive numbers offensively.
- Promised by head coach Robyn Scherr-Wells throughout the preseason, the Aces have played at a fast pace, ranking in the top 40 in both points per game (78.3) and possessions per 40 minutes (76.2).
- Offensively, the Aces are led by three players averaging double figures, Je'Naiya Davis, Abby Feit, and Myia Clark, with Davis leading the pack with an even 20 points per game.
- Powering the offense this season, senior Anna Newman has been on of the best in the conference running the point. Newman is averaging four assists per contest and has dished-out a total of 36 dimes through nine games, both fifth-best in the MVC.
Impressive Freshmen
- Despite upperclassmen leading the way as the top three scorers, Evansville's freshmen class has been integral in the Aces success this season.
- Elly Morgan, Kodie Myszka, and Gala Camarena all sit within the top 11 in the MVC among freshman in points per game.
- Myszka leads the conference in blocks per game, nearly swatting a shot per contest.
- Morgan is second in the MVC in steals per game with 1.4 per game.
- Camarena is second in both assists per game (2.1) and three-point percentage (60%).
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