The University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team withstood several second half runs by Pittsburg State University to win the season opener, 91-86, at the Physical Activities Center Saturday afternoon. The Eagles start the year 1-0 for the fourth time in five years.

The Screaming Eagles built two second half leads of 13 points at 61-48 and 64-51 with 16:13 to play in the game. The Gorillas bounced back to cut the USI lead to two-points on three different occasions and cut the lead to one point, 86-85, with 59 seconds to play.

USI junior guard Kennitra Johnson (New Albany, Indiana) led the Eagles in the final minute, hitting a three-point field goal with 43 seconds to play and icing the game on a pair of free throws with 21 seconds to play.

Johnson led four USI players scoring in double figures with 24 points, hitting eight-of-13 from the field and four-of-five from beyond the arc. Junior guard Jamie Truitt (Owensboro, Kentucky) followed Johnson with 23 points on nine field goals before fouling out.

Also scoring in doubles figures were sophomore forward Ashley Green (Otterbein, Indiana) and senior forward Shajuan Lindsey (Midlothian, Illinois). Lindsey posted 18 points, while Green dropped in 12 points and grabbed a team-high six rebounds.

The Eagles will resume action Monday, November 17, when NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region opponent Hillsdale College visits the Physical Activities Center for a 7 p.m. USI will finish its three-game homestand to start the season with Oakland City University Tuesday, November 25. The USI-OCU women's basketball game will start at 5:15 p.m. as the first game of a men's and women's doubleheader.