EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team cruised to an 83-58 victory over the St. Louis Goldstars in its exhibition season-opener Friday evening at the Physical Activities Center.

Junior forward Jasmine Baines (Jeffersonville, Indiana) scored 23 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and recorded five steals to lead the Screaming Eagles. Senior guard Katie Thiesenhusen (Muskego, Wisconsin) added 16 points, while senior forward Sabrina Brandon (Danville, Illinois) chipped in 13 points.

USI (1-0 exhibition) also got solid play from the point guard position as junior Akiya Alexander (Evanston, Illinois) finished with 11 points and five assists.

The Eagles used an 11-0 run through the first five minutes of the second half to turn a 15-point halftime lead into a 52-26 advantage.

After seeing their lead shrink to 14 points, the Eagles reeled off a 20-9 run to close the door on the Goldstars' comeback attempt.

The Eagles, who shot 44.3 percent from the field, jumped out to a 20-7 lead to open the contest. USI was 4-for-10 from behind the arc in the opening period, while out-rebounding the Goldstars 34-16 in the first half.

USI finishes its exhibition season Monday when it travels to Morehead, Kentucky, to take on NCAA Division I foe Morehead State University at 6 p.m. (CST). The Eagles open the regular season November 15 at the University of Central Missouri.