EVANSVILLE, Ind.—Junior forward/center Sarah Buldtman (Metropolis, Illinois) scored a career-high 17 points to help the University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team to an 82-74 victory Saturday afternoon at the Physical Activities Center.

The Screaming Eagles' (14-12, 6-9 GLVC) victory pulls them to with in a game of the University of Missouri-Rolla for the third spot in the GLVC's West Division and an automatic bid into the GLVC Tournament. UM-Rolla lost, 66-62, to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Saturday afternoon.

Buldtman, who was 6-of-8 from the field and 5-of-5 from the free throw line, scored five of her points in the final five minutes and had a game-clinching three-point play that put the Eagles up by seven with less than two minutes remaining in the contest.

Senior forward Ashley Green (Otterbein, Indiana) chipped in 14 points and a game-high tying eight rebounds, while junior guard Katie Thiesenhusen (Muskego, Wisconsin) finished with 12 points. Green also tallied four assists and three blocks as she moved into 11th all-time in career rebounding at USI.

The Eagles, which led 34-33 at the break, shot 53.4 percent from the field, including 56.3 percent in the final 20 minutes. They used a 12-2 run in the early part of the second half to break the game open, but had to fight off several Rockhurst runs to come away with the victory.

Sophomore forward Jasmine Baines (Jeffersonville, Indiana) aided the Eagles with 11 points and six rebounds, while freshman forward/center Jessica Grimaldo (Carmi, Illinois) added 11 points and three rebounds. Freshman point guard Keisha Collins (South Holland, Illinois) finished with seven points and a game-high tying six assists.

Rockhurst (4-19, 1-14 GLVC) was led by senior guard/forward Jessica Rethman, who tied Buldtman with a game-high 17 points. Rethman also added five assists.

USI embarks on its final road trip of the regular season when it travels to Quincy, Illinois, to take on Quincy University Thursday at 5:15 p.m. The Eagles finish their 2005-06 road schedule a week from today when they take on SIU Edwardsville at 1 p.m.