As a result of the USI women’s basketball team’s 90-57 victory over Southeast Missouri State University on Saturday, Feb. 7, the Screaming Eagles officially qualified for the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament. This is the fourth time that Southern Indiana has clinched a spot in the competition in as many years. While this year’s squad lost some significant pieces from previous years, like Vanessa Shafford, senior guard, Meredith Raiey, senior forward and Madison Webb, senior forward/center, they have remained a steadfast team in their own right.
If we compare their stats to the previous two years, the scoring is down a point per game from last season and two points per game from 2024. However, on the defensive end of the court, they have been incredible, only allowing 57.1 ppg, which is 6.3 points lower than last season and 5.3 points below their 2024 mark. Furthermore, they have played a significantly harder schedule than in past years, as the Strength of Schedule currently stands at -3.51, compared to previous years, where it stood at -5.52 (2025) and -7.07 (2026). Could this team be better than in previous years? Probably not, but it would be interesting to consider the possibility.
The success of this season should be handed to Stein, associate head coach Randa Gatling, and assistant coaches Ashley Johnson and Hailey Diestelkamp, who have done one of the more remarkable jobs in college basketball. They have completed their magnum opus of defensive excellence, which has been a major factor of this team’s success.
The players, many of whom are new additions to the squad, like Shannon Blacher, junior guard, Maddy Fay, junior forward and Channah Gannon, freshman forward/center, also deserve credit for their play this season.
As for what lies ahead, they are currently two games behind Western Illinois University, which has a record of 13-3. However, the Screaming Eagles (11-4) still have a game in hand to play and have a head-to-head matchup with Western Illinois in Macomb, Illinois Thursday, Feb. 19.
Obviously, Southern Indiana cannot afford to slip up Tennessee Tech University on Saturday, Feb. 14. The game provides a tough matchup, as Tennessee Tech holds a record of 7-8, The Importance of the game is heightened by the fact that it will be televised nationally on ESPNU. I’d say that’s a 75% win for USI, but it’s far from a mortal lock. If the 25% comes into play, a loss in that game would likely eliminate Southern Indiana’s title odds.
Even still, the outcome of these games might not matter, as Lindenwood University has a tie-breaker over the Screaming Eagles, as they swept both matchups this season, so a loss by the Lions would be required as well. At the end of the day, games aren’t played in the aggregate or in spreadsheets. Otherwise, why would we play the game if the outcomes are decided?
It will be a wild ride to the finish line!
All stats courtesy of Sports-reference.com