EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team fell to Kentucky Wesleyan College, 67-63, Saturday evening at the Physical Activities Center.

It marks the first time that the Screaming Eagles have lost to the Panthers in 21 meetings, a streak that dates back to February 19, 1994. It also is the first time since 1996 that KWC has defeated USI in a women's head-to-head competition.

USI (11-8, 4-8 GLVC) committed 27 turnovers, while creating just 16, and sent KWC to the free throw line 27 times as it lost for the sixth time in seven games.

Down by seven late in the game, the Eagles reeled off eight straight points to take a 60-59 lead with 1:47 remaining in the contest.

After a KWC free throw by freshman forward LaTasha Henry tied the game at 60, USI junior forward Ashley Green (Otterbein, Indiana) hit a three-pointer from the baseline corner of the court to give the Eagles a three-point lead with 1:12 to play.

KWC answered with a three-pointer from freshman guard/forward Laura McClintic, which tied the game at 63 with 55 seconds to play in the game. USI had a chance to take the lead but a turnover gave the Panthers the ball with 41 seconds to play in the contest. Henry's layup with 28 seconds remaining gave the Panthers the lead.

Senior forward/center Andrea Engleking (Charlottesville, Indiana) missed a jumper inside the paint that would have tied the game at 65. KWC's sophomore guard Whitney Espenlaub came up with the rebound on Engleking's miss and got the ball up the court to McClintic who iced the game with a fast-break lay-up with five seconds to play in the game.

Junior forward Sabrina Brandon (Danville, Indiana) battled injury to lead the Eagles with a game-high 18 points, 10 of which came in the second period. Senior center Megan Nelson (Clarendon Hills, Illinois) scored nine points, grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds, dished out four assists, and came up with a career-high five blocks.

Green finished with 11 points and matched Brandon with eight rebounds, while senior guard Jamie Truitt (Owensboro, Kentucky) scored nine points and dished out a game-high five assists.

USI out-rebounded the Panthers 49-41 and out-shot the Panthers 42.2 percent to 35.4 percent. KWC converted 17 of their 27 free throw attempts and sent the Eagles to the line just 12 times, six of which the Eagles converted into points.

KWC (10-10, 5-8 GLVC) had four players in double figures, with McClintic scoring a team-high 15 points.

USI will return to the road—the Eagles start with Northern Kentucky University Thursday at 4:30 p.m. at Regents Hall in Highland Heights, Kentucky—for six of its last eight games. The Eagles will return to the PAC February 10 to take on the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.