EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team opened the 2007-08 campaign with a 40 point win at home against the University of Illinois-Springfield Saturday night in the Physical Activities Center. USI starts the year 1-0, while UIS falls to 2-3 on the young season.

The season-opening victory was the first for the Eagles since 2004-05.

The Prairie Stars stayed with the Eagles for the first six minutes of the game and led 10-8 with 14:27 left in the first half. USI took control after that point, bursting out offensively on a 28-5 run to take a 36-15 lead with 4:55.

The Eagles would lead by as many as 25 points in the opening half before taking a 46-25 advantage into the intermission.

In the second half, USI continued to build the margin before UIS cut the lead to 17 points, 53-36. That would be as close as the Prairie Stars would get as the Eagles reestablished command and produced the 40 points victory, 90-50.

USI senior forward Jasmine Baines (Jeffersonville, Indiana) led the way in the scoring column with a game-high 22 points. Baines was followed by junior guard Carly Clendenen (Anderson, Indiana), who had 18 points, while sophomore guard VaNita Smart (Evansville, Indiana) and junior guard Brittany Darden (Guthrie, Kentucky) rounded out the double figure scorers with 12 points each.

The Eagles continue the season-opening three-game homestand Tuesday when they host the University of the Cumberlands at the PAC. Game time is 5:15 p.m.