EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team used a suffocating defensive performance and some hot shooting to trounce the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, 72-42, Thursday evening at the Physical Activities Center.

USI (6-4, 2-1 GLVC), which held the Rangers to just two first half field goals and a 7.7 shooting percentage in the opening period, jumped out to a quick 11 point lead by connecting on seven of its first 10 shot attempts.

UW-Parkside (2-5, 1-2 GLVC), however, got to with in four points (15-11) when Ashley Ferguson put in a lay up with 8:27 remaining in the first half. It would be the last field goal the Rangers would make in the first half as the Screaming Eagles finished the opening period with a 20-5 run to go into the intermission with a 35-16 halftime advantage.

The decisive stretch in the first half came with five minutes remaining in the opening period. Senior guard Tiara Brown (Normal, Illinois) made a three-pointer to start an 11-0 run that lasted nearly four minutes and gave the Eagles a 17-point cushion.

USI's defense in the second half was just as staggering as the Eagles held the Rangers without a field goal for the first six minutes of the closing period. For the game, USI held UW-Parkside to 16.7 percent from the floor and just nine field goals.

On the flipside, the Eagles shot a blistering 57.8 percent from the field, including 41.7 percent from behind the arc.

Sophomore forward Jasmine Baines (Jeffersonville, Indiana) led the Eagles with a game-high 16 points and 11 rebounds, while freshman guard Keisha Collins (South Holland, Illinois) finished 12 points and a game-high seven assists.

Senior guard Carrie Schieve led the Rangers with 10 points, while Courtney Shadler led UW-Parkside with seven rebounds.

USI returns to action Saturday to take on Lewis University at 1 p.m. at the PAC. Lewis (4-3, 2-1 GLVC) fell to Kentucky Wesleyan College, 83-68, Thursday evening in Owensboro, Kentucky.