Box Score (PDF)

EVANSVILLE, Ind.—Preseason all-Missouri Valley Conference center Shannon Novosel led three University of Evansville women’s basketball players in double-figures Saturday with 16 points, as the Purple Aces raced past the visiting Oakland City University Mighty Oaks, 87-56, in exhibition action at Roberts Stadium.

Novosel went 5-of-8 from the floor, including a perfect 2-for-2 from three-point range, to score a game-high 16 points in just 19 minutes of action, while also rejecting four shots.  Sophomore guard Ashlee Barrett also pitched in 13 points and four assists, while junior center Hannah Singleton came off of the bench to pitch in 12 points and two blocks in 12 minutes of action.

Novosel set the tone early for Evansville with five points in the first minute and 16 seconds to give UE a quick 7-3 lead.  Oakland City would battle back, and eventually grab a 12-11 lead five minutes into the contest, before Novosel and fellow senior guard Ashley Austin sparked an 11-0 run to give UE control of the contest.

Austin sparked the run with a three-pointer with 14:50 to play to give UE a 14-12 lead.  A tip-in by junior Anaris Sickles, a pair of Austin free throws, and then five more points by Novosel quickly grew Evansville’s lead to 22-12 with 9:55 left in the half.  Oakland City would not get closer than seven points the rest of the way, as the Purple Aces would give new head coach Misty Murphy a 31-point victory in her exhibition debut as UE head coach.

“For the first game, I saw a lot of good things, especially offensively,” said Murphy.  “I thought that we did a good job of controlling tempo, and it was good to see a lot of different people step up.

“We still have a lot of things to work on obviously, but, for the most part, I was pleased.  Now, we just need to continue to work hard in practice and get better as a team to get ready for East Tennessee State next weekend.”

In all, 12 of the 13 Purple Aces in uniform scored, with seven players pitching in seven points or more.  Forwards Chelsea Miller and Kristi McVey each recorded 12 points to lead Oakland City.

Evansville will open the 2008-09 regular-season on Saturday, November 15 at 4:00 p.m. by hosting NCAA Tournament participant East Tennessee State at Roberts Stadium.  The game will be played as part of a UE basketball doubleheader, with the men’s team hosting Austin Peay on “Homecoming Weekend” at the University of Evansville.