SPRINGFIELD, Mo.—The University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team narrowed an eight-point halftime deficit to two points, but could not get any closer as No. 5-ranked Drury University handed the Screaming Eagles a 79-59 setback Thursday evening.

Led by freshman guard Keisha Collins (South Holland, Illinois), USI (11-9, 3-6 GLVC) jumped out to a 14-10 lead in the first six minutes of the game. Collins connected on her first three shots, including a pair of three pointers, to lead USI to the early four-point advantage.

The Panthers (15-1, 8-0 GLVC), however, ended the first period with a 9-0 run to go into the break with a 35-27 halftime advantage. Senior guard Allison Regier scored 15 of her game-high 21 points in the first half to lead Drury to the eight-point advantage.

Like the first half, USI got off to a great start, reeling off six straight points to close the Drury lead to 35-33. The Panthers, however, countered with a 10-0 run to build a 12-point cushion and never look back as they won their seventh straight game.

Drury, which had four players finish in double figures, shot 56.7 percent in the second half and 46 percent for the game as it built its lead to as many as 23 points.

Collins led USI with 14 points, while junior forward/center Sarah Buldtman (Metropolis, Illinois) finished with 10 points and a career-high tying seven rebounds. Senior forward Ashley Green (Otterbein, Indiana) chipped in six points and a team-high eight rebounds for USI, which claimed a 44-37 advantage on the glass, while sophomore forward Jasmine Baines (Jeffersonville, Indiana) finished with eight points and seven rebounds.

USI returns to action Saturday when it faces Rockhurst University at 1 p.m. in Kansas City, Missouri. The Eagles return home a week from tonight to take on the University of Indianapolis at 5:15 p.m.