at Southern Indiana (9-2, 2-0 GLVC): 85
#20 Northern Kentucky (3-3, 0-2 GLVC): 76
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EVANSVILLE, Ind.—Junior guard Ellen Young followed up her 24-point effort against Bellarmine University Thursday night by dropping in a career-high 30 points Saturday afternoon to lead the University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team to an 85-76 victory over No. 20 Northern Kentucky University at the Physical Activities Center.
Young drained 5-of-7 attempts from downtown while the Screaming Eagles, as a team, connected on 11 three-pointers en route to their first victory over a nationally-ranked team since the 2003-04 season.
The Eagles (9-2, 2-0 GLVC), who have won eight straight games, racked up many of their three-pointers in crucial points of the contest. USI, which trailed 48-46 four minutes into the second period, got a three-pointer from Young with 15:37 to play in the contest to take a one-point lead it would not relinquish.
Junior guard Lauren Meneghetti, who scored a season-best 16 points, knocked down a trifecta with nine minutes to play to give the Eagles a 59-54 lead, then hit another three-pointer with less than two minutes on the clock to give USI a 77-71 advantage.
Fellow classmate, Amie Newhart drained a three-pointer with less than four minutes to play to give USI a five-point edge (64-59), then sunk six straight free throws in the final minute to seal the victory for USI. Newhart finished the game with 16 points, four assists, and a team-high five rebounds.
USI, which shot 51.9 percent from the floor and 56.5 percent in the second half, forged a pair of 10-point leads, including a 37-27 edge with five minutes to play in the opening stanza.
Northern Kentucky (3-3, 0-2 GLVC), however, got a three-pointer from sophomore guard Casse Mogan and another from sophomore forward Stephanie Hodges throughout the next minute to cut USI's lead to two points.
After going into the break with a 39-37 halftime advantage, Young sank a pair of free throws and a three-pointer to give USI a 44-39 advantage thirty seconds into the final period.
The Norse, however, used a jumper from Mogan to start a 9-2 run that gave them a 48-46 advantage. Morgan finished the contest with a team-high 19 points.
USI, which was 20-of-23 from the free throw line while out-rebounding the Norse 31-24, returns to action Wednesday when it hosts the University of North Alabama. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. at the PAC.
