Empowering the Future: UE Women’s Basketball Honors National Girls and Women in Sports Day with a Thrilling Match Against Valpo

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville women’s basketball team faced a tough challenge against Valparaiso, ending with a 64-51 loss in front of an enthusiastic crowd. The game was marked by a slow second quarter that hindered the Aces’ chances of a comeback.

Sophomore forward Maggie Hartwig from Sauk City, Wisconsin, stood out with an impressive performance. She scored 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, marking her fifth double-double of the season and her seventh game with over 20 points.

Head Coach Robyn Scherr expressed disappointment after the game. “It wasn’t for a lack of effort. The team played really hard,” she said. “We struggled with their pressure in the first half. In the second half, we improved, but Valpo managed crucial baskets when we were closing the gap.”

Freshman forward Elle Snyder kickstarted the game with five quick points. Evansville took the lead in the first quarter after Kaiden Kreinhagen hit a three-pointer, ending the quarter with an 8-3 run. However, the second quarter was challenging, as Snyder was the only player to score during a long stretch, ending with just three points for the Aces. Despite this, they were only down by four at halftime.

In the third quarter, Hartwig’s three-point play brought Evansville close again. However, Valparaiso used turnovers to create a five-point lead early in the half. The teams exchanged baskets, and as the quarter closed, the Aces managed to reduce the deficit to two possessions.

The fourth quarter saw a competitive back-and-forth. But a pair of threes from Layla Gold of Valpo stretched their lead to nine points with under six minutes left. Claudia Clement scored for Evansville, bringing the Aces back to within seven, but they couldn’t catch up before the final whistle.

Besides Hartwig’s standout performance, freshman guard Camryn Runner contributed 10 points, while Snyder added eight. Hartwig also led the team in rebounds, and freshman guard Avery Kelley set a new career high with seven boards.

Next up, the Aces will head to Southern Illinois for their next game on February 7 at 6 p.m. It promises to be another exciting matchup as they continue their Missouri Valley Conference journey.

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