EVANSVILLE, Ind.—Senior forward Michelle King (Columbus, Indiana) scored a career-high 22 points and pulled down a career-best 10 rebounds as the University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team defeated the University of Illinois-Springfield, 84-53, Tuesday night at the Physical Activities Center.

USI (1-1) forced the Prairie Stars into 35 turnovers and converted those miscues into 32 points as it started to pull away late in the opening period.

Despite a hot shooting performance in the opening period by Illinois-Springfield, the Screaming Eagles found themselves clinging to a 32-28 lead late in the half. The Eagles, however, closed the opening period with a 7-0 run to go into the intermission with a 39-28 halftime advantage.

After spotting the Prairie Stars three points to open the second half, the Eagles went on a 10-0 run to build an 18-point cushion five minutes into the closing period.

The Eagles, who out-scored the Prairie Stars 42-20 in the paint, held Illinois-Springfield to just six field goals in the second half. USI put the game out of reach midway through the second half as it used a 17-5 run to extend its lead to 66-36.

Senior forward Sabrina Brandon (Danville, Illinois) was 7-of-8 from the free throw line and finished with 15 points, while junior forward Jasmine Baines (Jeffersonville, Indiana) and junior guard Marshay Jolly (Merrillville, Indiana) added 10 point each. Baines also had six rebounds, while junior guard Akiya Alexander (Evanston, Illinois) chipped in nine points and a game-high six assists.

UIS (2-4) got 13 points from junior forward/center Bethany Borrenpohl and a game-high 12 rebounds from junior center Cherena Douglas.

The Eagles return to action Sunday when they host the Gulf South Conference's Christian Brothers University at 2 p.m. at the PAC.