KANSAS CITY, Mo.—The University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team claimed a 65-61 victory over Rockhurst University Thursday evening to inch a step closer to the GLVC Tournament.

After seeing a 40-29 halftime advantage evaporate in the second period, USI (16-10, 10-8 GLVC) used a 12-3 run to build a 63-54 advantage with four minutes remaining in the contest. Senior guard Katie Thiesenhusen (Muskego, Wisconsin) started and ended the run with a pair of three-pointers.

Thiesenhusen, who finished with 11 points and a career-high tying 10 rebounds, also drained a pair of free throws in the final 10 seconds of the game to preserve the Screaming Eagles' four-point victory.

Rockhurst (9-18, 3-16 GLVC), which trailed by as many as 12 in the first half, chipped away at the Eagles' lead through the course of the final four minutes. The Hawks held USI scoreless until Thiesenhusen connected on the two free throws to seal the win.

With USI clinging to a 63-61 lead and less than 30 seconds remaining on the clock junior guard Missy Glaser (Evansville, Indiana) collected a rebound off a missed three-pointer that would have given USI a five-point lead. Her rebound allowed the Eagles to maintain possession and gave Thiesenhusen the opportunity to hit the game-clinching free throws.

In the first half, USI relied on senior forward Sabrina Brandon (Danville, Illinois) and junior guard Marshay Jolly (Merrillville, Indiana). Brandon scored eight of her 12 points in the first period, while Jolly tallied all nine of her points in the first 20 minutes. Brandon also finished with nine rebounds.

Rockhurst's senior center, Courtney Farmer, led all scores as she finished with 20 points and seven rebounds.

USI finishes the regular season Saturday when it travels to Drury University. The Eagles need a victory over the Panthers, a Bellarmine University win over Saint Joseph's College, or a Northern Kentucky University victory over the University of Indianapolis Saturday to clinch a spot in the GLVC Tournament. A win over the Panthers would secure the third seed in the West Division, while a loss would either eliminate the Eagles or send them in as a wild card.

Drury (19-7, 13-5 GLVC) has secured the top spot in the GLVC West Division with Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's loss to the University of Missouri-Rolla Thursday.