EVANSVILLE, Ind. (Interstat) — A pivotal Ohio Valley Conference women’s basketball clash is set for Friday when the Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles host the Western Illinois Leathernecks at the Physical Activities Center. Both teams enter with impressive overall records, but are coming off contrasting starts to league play. Western Illinois (15-3) saw a six-game winning streak snapped in a 53-63 loss at Morehead State on Thursday. Southern Indiana (14-4) extended its win streak to five with a 73-57 home victory over Eastern Illinois that same night. The matchup features two of the conference’s top players. Western Illinois will lean on guard Addi Brownfield, who is averaging 12.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. She posted 17 points and seven assists in the loss to Morehead State. For Southern Indiana, guard Chloe Gannon is a consistent scoring threat, coming off a 21-point performance against Eastern Illinois. She averages 12.7 points per game and leads the OVC in blocks. The Leathernecks’ offense, which averages 72.2 points per game, will test a stout Screaming Eagles defense that allows just 57.8 points on average, ranking among the nation’s best. Southern Indiana’s defensive pressure will aim to disrupt Western Illinois’s rhythm. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, Southern Indiana is projected with a 75.9% probability to win, buoyed by home court advantage and its current form. However, Western Illinois’s strong season record indicates a capacity to bounce back. Friday’s contest is the first of a regular-season series, with the rematch scheduled for Feb. 19 in Macomb, Illinois. The outcome will provide early positioning in a competitive OVC race.