OWENSBORO, Ky. – The University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team clinched a spot in the GLVC Tournament with an 82-68 victory over Kentucky Wesleyan College Thursday evening in Owensboro, Kentucky. USI raises its record to 14-12 overall and 7-12 in the GLVC, while KWC falls to 12-15, 7-13 GLVC.

The USI victory and the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville loss at the University of Indianapolis Thursday assured the Screaming Eagles of spot in the league tournament. A USI win in Saturday's regular season finale at Bellarmine University would put the Eagles into the GLVC Tournament as the seven seed. A loss would place USI in the tournament as the eighth seed.

The Panthers jumped out in front early, leading by eight points, 14-6, with 12:45 to play in the first half and nine points, 25-16, with 9:09 to play before halftime. The Eagles went on a 12-0 run to get back into the game and take a 28-25 lead with 4:30 to play in the opening period.

KWC would rebound to build a pair of five point margins before USI would even the score at the intermission, 37-37. USI junior forward Sabrina Brandon (Danville, Illinois) kept USI in the game during the first half, scoring 10 of her 14 points during the half.

In the second half, KWC would take the early advantage but it would be the Eagles night. USI, trailing 44-41, used an 18-4 run to take the lead for good. The offensive charge was led by senior guard Jamie Truitt (Owensboro, Kentucky), who scored 13 points of her game-high 18 points in the second stanza.

USI senior forward Andrea Engleking (Charlottesville, Indiana) also was clutch for the Eagles, hitting eight-of eight from the charity stripe during the final 20 minutes. Engleking finished the game with 14 points.

Eagles' junior forward Ashley Green (Otterbein, Indiana) led USI on the boards with her first double-double of the year. Green grabbed 10 of USI's 41 rebounds and dropped in 12 points.

Junior guard Tiara Brown (Normal, Illinois) rounded out the USI double-figure scorers with 11 points and also dished out a team-high seven assists.