The University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team defeated the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, 81-72, in overtime Sunday afternoon at the Physical Activities Center in Evansville, Indiana. The Screaming Eagles improve to 8-17 overall and 6-12 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference while the Lady Rangers fall to 10-16 overall and 6-12 in the GLVC.

USI's win also moves it into a tie for seventh place in the GLVC standings.

Down by as many as 12 in the first half, the Eagles fought back to within five points at the break. USI connected on just eight field goals in the opening frame as it went into the locker room facing a 26-21 deficit.

USI used a 12-6 run to open the second half and forge a 33-32 lead, its first lead of the contest. The Eagles pushed that lead to four points, but a 12-3 UWP run put the Eagles in the hole, once again, this time 45-39 with 9:33 to play in regulation.

The Eagles cut the lead back to two later in the half, but found themselves down by six with just under three minutes in the game.

Once again, USI cut back into the lead, this time using a 6-1 run to close the gap to with in a point (61-60) with 30 seconds to play in regulation. However, a pair of free throws by UWP junior guard Michele Pickering put the Lady Rangers up by three and USI's chances in doubt.

With 12 seconds to play, senior guard/forward Sarah McIntosh (Cabery, Illinois) connected on a three-point basket to knot the game up at 63 and send the contest into an extra period.

In the overtime, the Eagles came out gunning, connecting on 6-of-8 shots from the floor and 5-of-5 from the free throw line. For the game, USI connected on its last 21 free throws attempts.

Leading the way for the Eagles was junior forward Shajuan Lindsey (Midlothian, Illinois) and senior forward/center Africa Sherrod (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida). Lindsey scored 19 points and pulled down 10 rebounds while Sherrod matched her with 19 points and nine rebounds.

McIntosh connected on five three-pointers and finished with 17 points, 14 of which came in the second half and the overtime period.

The Eagles will travel to Quincy, Illinois to take on Quincy University this Thursday, February 27, before wrapping up the regular season on Saturday, March 1, at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Game time on Thursday is 5:15 p.m. while Saturday's contest is slated for a 1 p.m. tip-off. GLVC Tournament play will start Wednesday, March 5.