The University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team lost its third straight game, falling to the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, 58-54, Saturday afternoon at the DeSimone Gymnasium in Kenosha, Wisconsin. It was the first time in 15 games that the Screaming Eagles have lost to the Lady Rangers.

USI falls to 6-12 overall, 4-7 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, while UWP improves to 9-9 overall, 5-6 in the GLVC.

After a dreadful first half that saw the Eagles shoot 23.3 percent from the floor, including a 0-of-7 showing from behind the arc, the Eagles found themselves playing catch-up in the second half. USI committed 12-first half turnovers as it went into the locker rooms facing a 25-17 halftime deficit.

The Eagles found themselves down by 10, coming out of the break, before reeling off an 8-3 run to narrow the UWP lead to 30-25. However, the Lady Rangers answered USI with an 11-2 run that put the Eagles in a 14-point hole with 12:15 to play in the game.

USI fought back to close the gap to six by the final media timeout, but a pair of lay-ups by UWP's sophomore forward, Sammy Kromm, gave the Lady Rangers a 54-44 lead with 3:45 to play in the contest.

Once again, the Eagles battled back, this time to within five points. Freshman guard/forward Ashley Green (Otterbein, Indiana) dished in five of her 10 points down the stretch to put the Eagles in position to narrow the gap to a one-possession game.

However, poor free throw shooting prevented the Eagles from cutting the deficit to less than four points as the Lady Rangers went on to the 58-54 victory. USI shot just 55.6 percent from the charity stripe in the loss.

Junior guard/forward Shannon Wells (Merrillville, Indiana) led the Eagles with 13 points, 13 rebounds, and a game-high six steals. Senior forward/center Africa Sherrod (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida) dished in 13 points and eight rebounds.

UWP was led by Kromm, who finished with 22 points and seven rebounds.

The Eagles will return home this Thursday, January 30, to take on Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Tip-off is slated for 5:15 p.m. at the Physical Activities Center.