RENSSELAER, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team held off a determined Saint Joseph's College squad to post a 76-70 victory Thursday evening and extend its winning streak to five games.

USI (5-1, 2-0 GLVC) jumped out of the gates early as it built an eight-point advantage four minutes into the contest. The Screaming Eagles, who shot 60.6 percent from the floor in the first half, extended the lead to 13 later in the period before ending the opening frame on an 8-2 run to claim a 48-34 halftime edge.

Senior forward/center Sarah Buldtman (Metropolis, Illinois) scored 13 of her season-high 16 points in the opening half on a blistering 6-for-6 shooting performance. She finished the game with her third double-double of the season, second in as many games, as she brought down a game-high 10 rebounds.

Despite the early success, the Pumas (0-6, 0-2 GLVC) chipped away at the lead behind the stellar play of their leading scorer, junior guard Allison Hughes. Hughes, who finished the game with 30 points, connected on four three-pointers and was 10-of-12 from the charity stripe to keep Saint Joseph's close.

After the Pumas cut the Eagles' lead to three with five minutes to play, senior guard Katie Thiesenhusen (Muskego, Wisconsin) and junior forward Jasmine Baines (Jeffersonville, Indiana) answered by scoring USI's final 10 points of the contest to stave off the Saint Joseph's surge.

Thiesenhusen finished the game with a season-high 20 points to go with five rebounds and four assists, while Baines finished with 12 points and six rebounds. Three of Baines's rebounds came in the final minute of the contest.

The Eagles also got 11 points, four rebounds, and three assists out of junior guard Akiya Alexander (Evanston, Illinois), while junior guard Marshay Jolly (Merrillville, Indiana) continued her solid play with nine points, six rebounds, and three assists.

In addition to Hughes's 30 points, the Pumas also got 13 points and five rebounds out of junior center Patience Meyers. Senior forward Michelle Bova led Saint Joseph's with eight rebounds.

USI returns to action Saturday when it travels to Indianapolis to face the University of Indianapolis at noon (CST). The Greyhounds (3-2, 1-1 GLVC) are coming off a 66-60 setback to Kentucky Wesleyan College Thursday evening.