The University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team exploded for 93 points as it topped Saint Joseph's College, 93-69, Saturday afternoon at the Physical Activities Center in Evansville, Indiana. The Screaming Eagles improve to 2-4 overall and 2-2 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference while the Pumas fall to 4-2 overall and 2-2 in the GLVC.
After struggling in the first half in each of their first five games this season, the Eagles came out of the gate against Saint Joseph's to shoot 55.6 percent and ring up an 11-point halftime lead.
USI dominated the paint in the first stanza, outscoring SJC 26-4 inside the lane. The Eagles held the Pumas to 21.1 percent shooting in the first half and grabbed 17 defensive rebounds as they went into the break with a 43-32 lead.
Protecting the ball was a big story for USI as it committed just seven turnovers in the first period.
After trading buckets for the first four minutes of the second half, the Eagles went on a 14-1 run to put them up by 24 with 12:53 to play.
Junior forward
Shannon Wells (Merrillville, Indiana) knocked down a pair of threes and fellow classmate
Shajuan Lindsey (Midlothian, Illinois) converted on a lay up and a three-point play during the run. Senior guard
Bethany Miller (Princeton, Indiana) started the run by drilling a bucket from behind the arc.
The Eagles were led by Lindsey and sophomore forward/center
Megan Nelson (Clarendon Hills, Illinois). Lindsey poured in a game-high 24 points to go along with eight rebounds while Nelson rang up 21 points and 11 rebounds. Nelson connected on 10-of-13 shots.
Senior forward/center
Africa Sherrod (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida) tapped in with 13 points and a game-high 14 rebounds in the win.
SJC was led by senior forward Heather Allen and senior guard Karin Morrisroe. Allen went for a team-high 21 points and nine rebounds while Morrisroe added 10 points.
The Eagles will take a break from conference action as they continue their 2002-03 campaign with Marian College next Saturday, December 14. Tip-off is slated for a 1 p.m. at the PAC.
