Much of the credit for last year’s elite season must be given to the USI coaching staff, who directed the team to 13 more wins in 2000-01 than in 1999-2000.

The Eagles stepped into the spotlight of Division II under the guidance of Head Coach Rick Stein. The third-year head coach was named the GLVC Coach of the Year and has a record of 43-16 (.729) in two seasons.

Stein, who is entering his 11th season with the USI program as a head coach and assistant, will have to reload part of the squad’s firepower with the graduation of four seniors, three starters, from last year’s team. Gone are All-GLVC performers Natalie Glaser and Liz Prewett, part-time starter Casey Nations, and super-sub Karrie Hochgesang. The four seniors averaged 39.5 points of USI’s 85.9 points per contest.

While the graduating players will be missed, USI returns two All-GLVC performers and the 2001 GLVC Freshman of the Year.

Taking the mantle of leadership is senior guard/ forward Casey Hughes (Bicknell, Indiana). Hughes, who was second team All-GLVC as a freshman and honorable mention as a sophomore, became a real force for the Eagles in February and March last season when she averaged 12.9 points and 4.9 rebounds. The senior, who averaged 10.9 ppg and 4.4 rpg for the year, finished the season ranked 8th in scoring and 15th in rebounds all-time at USI.

Hughes, who missed the Elite Eight with a shoulder injury, also became the eighth Eagle to score over 1,000 points in her career at USI.

Hughes will be joined by senior point guard Jasmine Moore (Chicago, Illinois), who was second team All-GLVC in 2000-01. Moore directed the USI offense last season, averaging 4.8 assists per contest, and was a leader on defense, averaging 2.2 steals a game. She also averaged 9.7 ppg in addition to dishing the ball to her teammates.

In the frontcourt the Eagles will look for the same production they received from last year’s GLVC Freshman of the Year Jessica Stuckman (Quincy, Illinois). Stuckman, a forward, was third on the team with 14.8 ppg and second on the squad with 6.4 rpg despite missing eight games with an stress fracture.

Returning with Hughes and Stuckman in the frontcourt are senior forward/center Michelle Irwin (Louisville, Kentucky) and senior center Kimberly Witkowiak (Milwaukee, Wisconsin).

A complete season from Irwin, who averaged 5.5 ppg and 4.3 rpg, will be key for the Eagles in 2001-02. Irwin has missed 12 games the last two seasons due to illness.

In the backcourt, Stein and the Eagles have three strong returnees in junior Bethany Miller (Princeton, Indiana), sophomore Erin Wall (New Albany, Indiana), and senior Mevett Wooley (Carbondale, Indiana).

Miller played in all 32 contests, averaging 4.4 ppg and was second on the team with 64 steals. Wall saw increased action as the season went along, averaging 3.3 ppg in 31 games, 6.7 in the final nine contests.

Wooley saw limited playing time last season due to knee injuries, but still averaged 2.2 ppg.

To fill the void left by the departing seniors, Stein has five newcomers, three junior college players, and two freshmen.

From Illinois, junior forward Sarah McIntosh (Cabery, Illinois) and junior center Stacy Karzin (Moline, Illinois) transfer to USI.

McIntosh led Kankakee Community College with 20.0 ppg and 5.8 rpg and was named first team All-Region. Karzin comes to USI from Blackhawk College where she posted 14.4 ppg and snatched 10.6 rpg and was named first team All-Region.

Out of Florida is junior forward/center Africa Sherrod (Ft. Lauderdale, FL). Sherrod averaged 7.1 ppg and 7.5 rpg in 2000-01, helping TCC to the Florida State Tournament crown and a third place finish nationally.

Coming to USI from the high school ranks are freshman guards Amber Calhoun (Evansville, Indiana) and April Williams (Lyons, Indiana).

Calhoun, who averaged 25.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg, and 4.0 steals as a senior for Bosse High School, was named All-City and All-SIAC all four seasons. Williams, who averaged 8.1 ppg and 3.7 assists as a senior at White River Valley High School, was AP Honorable Mention All-State, Regional MVP, and first team Terre Haute Tribune-Star All-Area.

The Screaming Eagles must travel a hard road to surpass last season’s accomplishments.

The ball will be tossed up at center-court for the Screaming Eagles in Florida on November 9 as they play in Disney’s Division II Tip-Off Classic in Disney’s Wide World of Sports. USI, which is 2-3 at the Wide World of Sports Complex, will play the University of Nebraska-Omaha in the first round of the three-day tournament.

The Eagles may get another shot at their Elite Eight opponent, Columbus State University, at Disney. CSU will begin the tournament in the opposite bracket.