Saint Francis (6-1): 81
at Southern Indiana (2-2): 71
Box Score

EVANSVILLE, Ind.—Despite having four players score in double-figures Saturday in the opening game of the USI Thanksgiving Classic, the University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team had no answer for University of Saint Francis (Indiana) junior guard Kayla Mullins as the Screaming Eagles suffered a tough 81-71 setback at the Physical Activities Center.

Mullins scored a game-high 27 points, going 9-of-11 from the floor and 7-of-8 from behind the arc, as the Cougars ended the Eagles' 15-game regular-season home winning streak.

“Mullins is a great player,” said USI Head Coach Rick Stein, who suffered his first-ever loss to an NAIA team in 21 meetings. “She's averaging 20 (points) a game and she obviously got some great looks tonight.

“The critical thing for us was on the defensive end,” Stein continued. “When we score 71 points, I feel like we are going to win the basketball game. Defensively we have got to be better…we are just not good enough right now on the defensive end.”

Trailing 66-56 with just over five minutes to play in the contest, the Eagles put together a 12-4 run that was capped off by a pair of Amie Newhart free throws with 1:31 to play in the contest.

Saint Francis (6-1), which is ranked No. 8 in the NAIA Division II Top 25 poll, got a three-pointer from Mullins in its next possession to end a 6-0 USI spurt and turn momentum back into its favor.

The Eagles (2-2) failed to get a basket in their next two possessions, allowing the Cougars to extend their lead to nine points at the free throw line.

USI got no closer than six points in the remaining 40 seconds as the Cougars dealt the Eagles their second straight loss.

Senior guard Ellen Young led USI with 16 points, all of which came in the second half, while senior forward/center Courtney Perry scored a career-high 13 points. Senior forward/center Stephanie McSparin added 11 points and a team-high seven rebounds, while Newhart chipped in 10 points.

Saint Francis also got 22 points and a game-high seven assists from senior guard Julie Seiss, while senior center Chanell Ridley added 11 points and a game-high eight rebounds.

As a team, the Cougars shot 54.0 percent from the floor and 64.3 percent from three-point range, including 85.7 percent in the second half. USI shot 37.5 percent from the floor and went 6-of-20 from three-point range.

The Eagles return to action Sunday when they host St. Mary's University (Texas) at 3 p.m. at the PAC.