• Sms

Meredith Raley along with her School off Southern Indiana basketball teammates grab cardio off Thursday night’s 67-62 overtime losses to help you an east Illinois College or university cluster you to definitely lived unbeaten in the Kansas Area Meeting gamble.

Within his very first EIU 12 months, Simmons’ is instruction in town the very first time once the he had been laid off after directing the Reddish Aces for eleven year

“This proves that we can compete with a knowledgeable when we enjoy 40 minutes away from USI basketball,” told you the latest Gibson South-bred 6′ 0” junior, exactly who in nearly thirty two times because the a sandwich obtained eleven factors as Lady Eagles dropped to facts of nine-eleven complete and step 3-six regarding OVC in their school’s basic NCAA Section We season. They grabbed those people facts Friday to Tennessee-Martin, and today vision the fresh new upcoming Thursday’s domestic date against Tennessee Condition, and far beyond one to.

When they become regarding the most useful seven of your own ten-people OVC’s regular year, her Eagles tend to qualify for the brand new ent in the downtown Evansville’s Ford Cardio, where they may score an opportunity to avenge a few regular-year loss so you can an eastern Illinois party that returned to Charleston with records from nine-0 informed and 17-step 3 full.

“We arrived right here this evening fastened to have 5th,” Mentor Rick Stein told you in the Thursday’s blog post-video game, “and we produced Eastern Illinois benefit that which you they got. We just need certainly to limit the turnovers and find a method to obtain specific wins.”

Raley, exactly who sample 4-for-9 afield and a pair of around three-section misses, and you will step 3-for-3 to your 100 % free sets, met with the same ideas since the Linton-Stockton-bred 5′ 9” sophomore shield Vanessa Shafford, whom test 6-for-10 to the threes on the way so you’re able to a game title-highest twenty four items – 3 more than 6′ 0” elderly teammate Hannah Haithcock.

Raley’s extremely vision-beginning enjoy included a-1:twenty six leftover in control

A tiny more than one minute just after the girl take to is actually prohibited, she drove the latest way, rounded for the a basket whenever fouled, and you can hit the free throw to have an excellent about three-section enjoy one put a beneficial 56-53 lead.

“We spotted chances so i ran for it,” she said. “When i turned into and you will test, I’d struck, but We directed the ball to the container.”

Top honors did not remain due to the fact EIU 5′ 8” sophomore Miah Monahan hit good three having 34 regulation mere seconds left and overtime ensued. Stafford and you may Haithcock containers forged ties at the 58 and you will sixty, however, EIU elder Lariah Arizona and Monahan joint for another four activities. Arizona done with a team-higher 14 to help you Monahan’s twelve.

“It kept assaulting the brand new basket and you may reached the brand new free throw line,” told you Raley, just who came off of the counter a 3rd straight video game immediately after starting the last 14.

“Not performing will not perception me. We believe any sort of Advisor Stein attempts to carry out,” told you Raley, just who additional, “As i get in, We try to step in on the coverage.”

Stein, within his 24th seasons as head coach, said Raley “is having good seasons. You will find no less than eight starters, and we have been rotating 7 widow dating or 7. That could alter any go out. Meredith’s times are the same while the when she become.”

This lady Eagles up coming saw USI boys, whom first started the night time inside an OVC very first-lay tie, avenge an excellent 91-80 December 31 road loss because of the repelling a belated rally and you will effective 78-74 about party trained by former University away from Evansville user and you will lead coach Marty Simmons.

“You are sure that, I did not promote people said to one,” said the latest 57-year-old Simmons, whom became Illinois Mr. Baseball in the 1983 after best Lawrenceville so you can the second upright 34-0 season and you will repeat county tournament. The guy found UE immediately after a few 12 months during the Indiana University under Bob Knight.