at Southern Indiana (22-7, 13-5 GLVC): 82
Quincy (19-8, 10-8 GLVC): 77
Box Score (ot) | Photo Gallery
EVANSVILLE, Ind.—Sophomore guard Cootie Leeberg scored seven of her 11 points in overtime Monday evening to lead the University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team to an 82-77 overtime victory over visiting Quincy University at the Physical Activities Center.
USI (22-7, 13-5 GLVC), which improved to 14-0 at the PAC this season, clinches the second seed in the GLVC East Division, a first-round bye in the GLVC Tournament, and the right to host a first and second-round cluster in the GLVC Tournament, which begins Saturday.
Trailing by two early in the overtime period, Leeberg drove the lane and was fouled by Quincy junior forward Courtney Shuman, who picked up her fifth foul of the contest after scoring 18 points in regulation. Leeberg drained both of the ensuing free throws to tie the contest at 71-71.
After junior guard Ellen Young hit a free throw and sunk a jumper to give the Eagles a 74-71 lead with three minutes to play in the overtime, Leeberg drove into the lane and got a layup to fall while being fouled in the process. Leeberg, who was 7-of-8 from the charity stripe, drained the free throw to give USI a commanding six-point lead (77-71) with 2:25 to play.
The Screaming Eagles increased their lead 20 seconds later after senior guard/forward Abby Williams was fouled after grabbing a rebound. Williams, who led all players with a career-high 22 points and 11 rebounds, connected on the subsequent free throws to give USI a 79-71 advantage.
Still, the Eagles needed two more free throws from Leeberg in the final 30 seconds to seal their win after the Hawks scored six straight points to cut USI's lead to a single basket with 50 seconds to play. Leeberg's free throws gave USI an 81-77 lead, while Williams ended the scoring with a free throw with 4.5 seconds to play.
The Eagles, who are 3-0 in overtime games this year, trailed by seven with 11 minutes to play in the second half, but rallied behind Williams, who scored five points in a 30-second span to bring the Eagles into a 52-52 tie with 7:33 to play in regulation. The two teams went back-and-forth for the next six minutes, until USI forged a 69-65 lead behind a Williams' jumper and a pair of Amie Newhart free throws.
Quincy (19-8, 10-8 GLVC), however, got a layup from Shuman and took advantage of a missed USI free throw to tie the contest on a Sam Pope layup in the final 10 seconds to force overtime.
In addition to Williams and Leeberg, the Eagles got 16 points from sophomore forward/center Ashton Mertens as well as five points, seven rebounds, and a game-high six assists from junior guard Lauren Meneghetti.
Senior forward Janette Burgin, a high school teammate of Newhart, led the Hawks with 21 points and nine rebounds.
The Eagles, who defeated Quincy for the first time since the 2006-07 season, will host the winner of the Missouri University of Science & Technology/Lewis University game Sunday at 1 p.m. at the PAC. The Miners and the Flyers play at the PAC Saturday at 1 p.m.
Tickets for the GLVC Tournament first and second-round cluster are $10 for adults and $5 for children 18-and-under. USI students will be admitted for free of charge with a valid student identification.
