EVANSVILLE, Ind.—No. 4-ranked Drury University used a 26-7 second half run to hand the University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team an 89-61 setback Thursday evening at the Physical Activities Center.
For at least a half, though, the Screaming Eagles (13-12, 5-9 GLVC) looked as though they would be in position to pull off a big upset, especially when senior forward
Ashley Green (Otterbein, Indiana) drained a three-pointer in the opening stages of the second half to cut a five-point halftime deficit (40-35) to just two points.
Drury (22-1, 15-0 GLVC), however, countered with the 26-7 run that lasted more than 11 minutes and put the Panthers on top, 66-45 with less than nine minutes to play.
Earlier in the game, USI used a 10-3 run to cut a 26-15 deficit to just four points. Both teams were on fire from the field in the first half, with each team shooting 50 percent or better from the floor and both connecting on 71.4 percent of their attempts from three-point range.
Sophomore forward
Jasmine Baines (Jeffersonville, Indiana) scored 11 of her game-high 21 points in the opening period to pace the Eagles' offense. She also pulled down five of her game-high eight rebounds in the first half to keep the Eagles' in the contest.
USI's offense cooled down in the second period as it was held to just 37.0 percent shooting, 25.0 percent from behind the arc, and 26 second-half points. Drury, however, did not miss a beat as it shot 52.0 percent from the floor in the closing half en route to 49 second-half points.
The Panthers had five players in double figures, paced by senior guard Allison Regier's 16 points. Sophomore guard Molly Carter added 15 points and five assists.
USI got eight points out of freshman guard
Keisha Collins (South Holland, Illinois) and seven from sophomore guard/forward
Marshay Jolly (Merrillville, Indiana). Junior guard
Katie Thiesenhusen (Muskego, Wisconsin) dished out a game-high six assists.
The Eagles return to action Saturday when they host Rockhurst University for homecoming. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m. at the PAC.
