at Drury (19-6, 11-3 GLVC): 70
Southern Indiana (17-7, 8-5 GLVC): 51
Box Score
SPRINGFIELD, Mo.—The University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team overcame an early eight-point deficit and nearly worked its way out of a 14-point second-half hole, but turnovers and the battle on the glass hurt the Screaming Eagles as they suffered a 70-51 setback to Drury University Tuesday night.
Sloppy play on the offensive end hampered the Eagles early as they committed seven turnovers in the first six minutes of the contest to fall into a 10-2 deficit.
The Eagles (17-7, 8-5 GLVC), however, rallied with eight straight points to tie the contest at 10-10, then used a 9-0 run later in the half to build a 19-14 advantage with six minutes to play in the period.
After the two teams traded tallies, USI's troubles on the glass became evident as the Panthers collected the final eight rebounds of the first period en route to a 16-4 run that left the Eagles facing a 32-25 halftime deficit. In all the Panthers outrebounded USI 42-24, and held a 14-6 edge in offensive rebounds, while the Eagles committed a season-high 26 turnovers.
“I thought it was about the little things,” USI Head Coach Rick Stein said in his post-game interview with WPSR's Shawn Paxton. “We turned the ball over too many times and gave up too many offensive rebounds.
“I was glad we made the run in the first half…I felt good about that,” Stein continued. “Turnovers hurt us in the first and second halves though.”
The Eagles opened the second period the same way they opened the first half as they coughed the ball up three times in the first three minutes, allowing the host Panthers to build a 41-27 advantage.
One bright spot for the Eagles, though, was the play of sophomore guard Rinesha Soaper, who had a team-high 18 points off the bench. Soaper scored eight straight points to jump-start a 19-9 advantage that pulled the Eagles to within four points (50-46) with just under eight minutes to play in the contest.
Drury (19-6, 11-3 GLVC), however, looked to senior forward/center Melanie Oliver to turn the Eagles' surge away.
Oliver, who racked up 10 of her 20 points and two of her game-high 11 rebounds in the final seven minutes of the contest, scored four straight points to begin a six-point run that extend her team's lead back to double digits.
The Panthers, who got a game-high 21 points and seven assists from senior guard/forward Lindsay Ballweg, held the Eagles to just three rebounds throughout the final eight minutes as they ended the contest with a 20-5 run.
“You have to take care of the ball, especially on the road, and we didn't do that tonight,” Stein said. “(Drury's) offensive rebounds killed us. They had too many second chances.”
In addition to Soaper's 18 points, junior guard Amie Newhart finished with 11 points to round out the Eagles' double-figure scorers.
The Eagles, who are 11-0 at home this season and 3-5 on the road, return to action Saturday at 1 p.m. when they host the No. 2 and undefeated University of Indianapolis Greyhounds at the Physical Activities Center. The Eagles will wear their pink uniforms and are encouraging all fans to wear pink in an effort to raise breast cancer awareness.
