EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana women's basketball defeated Lake Erie College, 94-75, in a see-saw battle Wednesday night at the Physical Activities Center.

"It's definitely a tough scenario to sandwich a non-conference game between a home game with Drury and a road game with Quincy," Head Coach Rick Stein said. "I thought we did a pretty good job of weathering a couple storms and I was pleased with how we were able to change up defenses and do some good things that kept us making nice runs."

USI (13-9), which won for the second straight time and the fifth time in the last seven outings, struggled early but used a 26-7 run to end the first half and go into the intermission with a 53-34 advantage.

The Screaming Eagles built their lead to as many as 27 early in the second half and looked to be in cruise control. However, the Storm of Lake Erie (6-20) fought back, using runs of 22-4 and 7-2 to cut USI's advantage to eight with six minutes remaining in the contest.

"We took a 27-point lead and then just got a little sloppy and a little complacent with the basketball," Stein said. "When you are just playing on your heels and playing for the clock to run, the ball ends up in the other team's hand. Bad offense was leading to bad defense."

But like the flip of a switch, the Eagles came out of their mini-slump, reeling of 15 straight points to extend their lead to 92-69 with two minutes remaining in the game.

"We just sharpened up a little bit late," Stein said. "I thought we did a better job of moving the basketball again and working hard for each other. "We're at our best when we share the basketball and make the extra pass; when we have balance inside and outside. I think you saw a lot of that in the runs we were able to make tonight."

The Eagles, who had five players finish in double figures, recorded 20 assists for the second straight game and the third time this season. Sophomore guard Amie Newhart (Mulberry, Indiana) finished the contest with a game-high tying 19 points and a career-high eight assists, while fellow classmate Ellen Young (Salem, Illinois) added 15 points, four assists, and four steals.

Junior guard/forward Abby Williams (St. Joseph, Illinois) chipped in 18 points and a team-high 11 rebounds, while senior forward/centers Ninette Evans (Memphis, Tennessee) and Brittany Neuman (Huntingburg, Indiana) added 14 and 11 points, respectively. Sophomore guard Lauren Meneghetti (Munster, Indiana) also had nine points and four assists.

"Tonight was a big win," Stein said. "We took care of business at home and now we have to get ready to go back on the road."

USI, which notched a season-high point total Wednesday night, returns to GLVC action Saturday when it visits Quincy University for a 1 p.m. tip-off in Quincy, Illinois. The play-by-play will be carried by WSPR 90.7 FM and WSWI AM 820. The contest also can be heard online at www.820theedge.com.