at Southern Indiana (12-2, 3-0 GLVC): 77
Illinois-Springfield (2-8, 0-3 GLVC): 58
Box Score | Photo Gallery
EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team is off to its best start since the 2000-01 campaign, thanks to a 77-58 come-from-behind victory over GLVC-newcomer University of Illinois-Springfield Saturday afternoon at the Physical Activities Center.
USI (12-2, 3-0 GLVC), which was 13-2 to begin the 2000-01 season, trailed by nine with six minutes to play in the opening period, but an 18-7 run gave the Screaming Eagles a brief 37-35 lead with two minutes to play in the opening period.
After seeing the Prairie Stars (2-8, 0-3 GLVC) forge a one-point advantage, the Eagles rallied for five straight points to claim a 42-39 halftime advantage.
The Eagles, who shot just 34.8 percent from the field and 20.0 percent from three-point range, scored four straight points to open the second period and extend their lead to seven points; but a 9-2 run put Illinois-Springfield into a 48-48 tie with just under 16 minutes to play in the contest.
USI, which capitalized on 28 Illinois-Springfield turnovers and 25 Prairie Star fouls, scored the next six points to retake the lead and swing momentum back into its favor.
The Eagles, who went 26-of-32 from the free throw line and scored 22 points off Illinois-Springfield turnovers, blew the game wide open with a 15-2 run later in the half that gave them a 71-54 lead with just over four minutes to play in the game.
Junior guard Amie Newhart led four Eagles that finished in double figures with 15 points, five assists, and seven rebounds. Fellow classmate Ellen Young added 12 points and four rebounds, while junior forward/center Stephanie McSparin and junior guard Lauren Meneghetti finished with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Despite falling behind 8-0 in the rebounding battle early in the contest, USI finished the game with 45 rebounds, four better than the Prairie Stars. McSparin and junior forward/center Courtney Perry each had seven rebounds, while Meneghetti finished with five rebounds. USI also saw its bench outscore the Prairie Stars reserves 33-13.
The Eagles close out their season-long six-game homestand Monday at 5:15 p.m. when they host Saint Joseph's College. The Pumas fell to Kentucky Wesleyan, 77-66, Saturday in Owensboro, Kentucky.
Note: Today's USI-Illinois-Springfield game can be seen in its entirety Sunday at 6 p.m. on WTSN Channel 36 (digital), Channel 41 (analog), and Insight Digital Channel 186. Time Warner cable subscribers in Newburgh and Warrick Count can view the game on WTSN Channel 14, while Owensboro, Rockport, and other tri-state communities served by Time Warner of Owensboro should tune to Channel 3.
