EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team forced 29 turnovers and held the University of Missouri-St. Louis to just 18 field goals as the Screaming Eagles cruised to an 88-61 victory Saturday at the Physical Activities Center. The win also breaks USI's losing streak when playing on Saturdays, a streak that lasted six games.
USI (16-7, 9-7 GLVC) struggled to gain any type of separation during the first few minutes of the game, but a 9-0 run put the Eagles on top by 10 five minutes into regulation. The Eagles blew the game wide open later in the half as they used a 17-5 run to close the opening period and take a 44-24 halftime lead.
The Eagles shot a blistering 54.3 percent from the field and forced the Riverwomen into 15 first-half turnovers as they pushed their lead to as many as 22 points in the first 20 minutes of the contest.
Junior guard
Jamie Truitt (Owensboro, Kentucky) and freshman point guard
Lauren Parrish (Shepherdsville, Kentucky) combined for 21 points in the first frame to lead the Eagles offense. Truitt finished with a game-high 23 points after connecting on a career-high seven three-pointers.
For the game, USI shot 52.2 percent from the field, while racking up 20 assists and 18 steals. Parrish, who finished with 12 points, dished out a game-high six assists, five of which came in the second half.
Joining Truitt and Parrish in double-figures was senior forward
Shajuan Lindsey (Midlothian, Illinois). Lindsey finished with 13 points, five rebounds, and four steals as the Eagles scored over 80 points for the fourth straight contest.
Junior center
Megan Nelson (Clarendon Hills, Illinois) added eight points and tied Truitt with a team-leading six rebounds.
UMSL (6-17, 3-13 GLVC) was led by junior center Iesha Billups and junior forward Kali Birkey. Billups finished with 16 points and a game-high 14 rebounds, while Birkey added 13 points.
USI, which clinched a spot in the GLVC Tournament with the victory, will travel to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Thursday, February 19, before finishing their regular-season road schedule with a trip to Romeoville, Illinois, to take on Lewis University Saturday, February 21.
