Poor shooting was once again a thorn in the side of the seventh-ranked University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team this evening at the Vadalabene Center in Edwardsville, Illinois. However, unlike their last road game—a 76-73 overtime victory at Saint Joseph's College—the Screaming Eagles could not overcome the poor shooting as they fell to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 70-59.
The loss snapped a three-game winning streak over the Cougars and dropped USI's record to 18-5 overall and 11-4 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. SIUE goes to 12-10 overall and 10-6 in the GLVC with the win.
USI was held to 34.3 percent from the floor and 21.4 percent from behind the arc while SIUE connected on 23 of its 49 shots for 46.9 percent. Free throws also hurt the Eagles' chances as they were just 10-of-17 from the charity stripe while the Cougars connected on 22 of their 30 free throw attempts.
The Eagles used a 9-0 run to grab a 13-9 lead with 11:47 to go in the first period. USI forced SIUE into 33.3 percent shooting in the first half and had a decisive 24-17 rebounding edge as it went into the locker room with a 28-25 halftime lead.
As the second half got underway, the Eagles saw that rebounding edge and the Cougars' shooting percentage take a complete u-turn. SIUE dominated the boards in the second half, grabbing 14 more boards than that of the Eagles, and shot a sizzling 60.0 percent from the floor.
The Cougars also doubled USI's seven free throw attempts in the second frame, connecting on 13 of their 14 visits to the charity stripe.
USI, once again, used a 9-0 run in the second half, this time to tie the game at 55 with five minutes to go in the contest. However, the Cougars answered USI's surge with an 11-2 run as they went on to the win.
Sophomore forward
Jessica Stuckman (Quincy, Illinois) led all scorers with 24 points to go along with six rebounds. Stuckman, who has led the Eagles in scoring in 15 of their 23 games this season, was 10-of-15 from the floor and collected a game-high four steals.
Senior forward
Casey Hughes (Bicknell, Indiana) followed Stuckman with 10 points. Hughes, who tied junior forward/center
Africa Sherrod (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida) with a game-high 10 rebounds, became the fifth player in USI history to record 1,000-career points and 500-career rebounds.
Junior forward Ruth Kipping led the Cougars with 19 points and nine rebounds while sophomore guard Jessica Robert added 14 points, five rebounds, and a game-high five assists.
The Eagles will try to rebound from the loss when they travel to Romeoville, Illinois, this Saturday, February 9. USI will take on Lewis University in a 1 p.m. tip-off.
