Senior forward/center Africa Sherrod (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida) scored a career-high 27 points and pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds to lead the University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team to an 88-61 victory over Marian College Saturday afternoon at the Physical Activities Center. The performance was Sherrod's sixth consecutive double-double this season.

After spotting Marian a bucket, the Screaming Eagles reeled off a 10-0 run to take control of the contest. USI spun off another 10-0 run later in the half to take a commanding 30-16 lead with seven minutes to play in the first period.

The Eagles shot 51.9 percent from the floor in the first half, and outrebounded the Lady Knights 22-16, as they went into the break with a 38-21 lead.

USI continued to poor it on in the second half, with Sherrod scoring 19 of her game-high 27 points in the closing period. The Eagles lit it up from the floor in the second stanza, connecting on 62.1 percent of their shots. They also drained 6-of-8 shots from behind the arc.

For the game, USI shot a season-high 57.1 percent from the floor and connected on 16-of-20 from the charity stripe.

Helping in the winning cause was junior forward Shajuan Lindsey (Midlothian, Illinois) and senior guard/forward Sarah McIntosh (Cabery, Illinois). Lindsey rang up 17 points while McIntosh connected on four three-pointers to finish with 14 points. Sophomore center Megan Nelson (Clarendon Hills, Illinois) was 5-of-6 from the floor to add 10 points.

Senior guard Bethany Miller (Princeton, Indiana) tied a career-high with 10 assists. She also recorded five points and three steals.

Marian (8-3), which entered the contest ranked 14th among NAIA Division II schools, was led by junior forward Kristi Koselke and freshman forward Meghan Pilarski. Koselke record a team-high 12 points and 7 rebounds while Pilarski added 11 points and 6 rebounds.

The Eagles will stay home to face the University of Illinois-Springfield this Tuesday, December 17. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. at the PAC.