at Southern Indiana (3-2): 61
St. Mary's (TX) (4-3): 48
Box Score

EVANSVILLE, Ind.—Junior guard/forward Kristin Raker scored five of her 11 points in a two-minute span that allowed the University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team to hold off a second-half rally and earn a hard-fought 61-48 victory over visiting St. Mary's University (Texas) Sunday afternoon in the final game of the USI Thanksgiving Classic at the Physical Activities Center.

USI saw its 11-point halftime lead dwindle to just three points before Raker hit a jump shot and a three pointer to extend the Screaming Eagles' advantage to 48-40 with 6:25 to play.

Senior guard Ellen Young drained a three-pointer a minute later to give the Eagles an 11-point cushion; then USI converted 8-of-9 free throw attempts in the final five minutes to put the game on ice. Four of the free throws came from senior guard Amie Newhart, who became the 11th player in USI history to eclipse the 1,000-point plateau.

USI (3-2) built the 11-point halftime advantage by clamping down on the defensive end. The Eagles held the Rattlers scoreless throughout the final five minutes of the opening period as they went on a 12-0 run to take a 31-20 lead into the break.

After senior forward/center Courtney Perry hit a pair of free throws to give the Eagles a 21-20 lead with just under five minutes to play in the period, Raker hit a three pointer and made one-of-two free throws to give the Eagles a five-point advantage.

Newhart, who finished with 10 points, five rebounds, and two assists, had a pair of baskets in transition to put the Eagles up 29-20, while Young capped off the 12-0 run with a bucket in the final four seconds of the half.

Perry led the Eagles with 12 points and nine rebounds, marking her second straight double-digit scoring effort, while Young added 11 points and six rebounds.

Senior forward Mareta Bailey and junior guard DeAnna Patterson led the Rattlers (4-3) with 11 points apiece, while senior forward Kristen Williams had a game-high 11 rebounds.

Despite being outrebounded 41-31, the Eagles dominated the paint, outscoring the Rattlers 22-8 in the lane. USI, which held the Rattlers to 29.2 percent from the field, also forced St. Mary's into 26 turnovers, turning those offensive miscues into 26 points.

The Eagles will go for the program's 500th win when they open Great Lakes Valley Conference play Thursday at Northern Kentucky University. Tip-off is slated for 4:30 p.m. (CST) at the Bank of Kentucky Center in Highland Heights, Kentucky.