ST. LOUIS – University of Evansville freshman Taylor Howe was named the Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week on Tuesday as the Purple Aces earned national recognition.
 
Opening the season at 13-1, Evansville received two votes in the USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll.  It marked the first time in over 20 years that the program received votes.
 
Having a major impact on that start has been Taylor Howe, who earned her first MVC accolade. 
Howe batted .389 with seven hits, six RBI, four runs and three doubles in a 5-0 weekend for the Purple Aces.  Howe reached base 45.0% of the time and picked up a steal in her lone attempt of the weekend. 
 
Picking up a hit in the weekend opener versus Purdue Fort Wayne, Howe opened the scoring with a steal of home in a 3-2 win.  She added a 3-4 effort in Friday's match-up versus St. Thomas where she posted two RBI.  Included in that tally was a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded in the 6^th inning.  Howe recorded another 3-hit afternoon in Sunday's comeback win over Bowling Green.  She added four RBI, three runs and two doubles. 
 
Her biggest hit of the weekend came in the 7^th inning.  With her team trailing 9-6 and the bases loaded with no outs, Howe hit a bases-clearing double to tie the game before UE won later in the inning.