at #23 Quincy (14-1, 6-1 GLVC): 92
Southern Indiana (9-7, 5-3 GLVC): 81
Box Score

QUINCY, Ill.—In a game that saw two teams combine for more than 170 points, a four-minute scoring drought proved to be too much for the University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team to overcome as the Screaming Eagles fell to No. 23 Quincy University, 92-81, in a Great Lakes Valley Conference bout Saturday afternoon.

USI (9-7, 5-3 GLVC) fought valiantly throughout the contest, surviving an aerial onslaught in the first half and overcoming a 13-point deficit in the second half to take a 63-62 lead with 12 minutes to play.

Quincy (14-1, 6-1 GLVC), however, held the Eagles scoreless for the next four minutes as the host Lady Hawks went on an 8-0 run to retake the lead and build a 70-63 advantage.

“You have to give a lot of credit to them (Quincy),” USI Head Coach Rick Stein said in his WPSR 90.7 FM postgame interview with Michael Robertson. “Every time we had a breakdown, they made us pay for it.”

The Eagles, who trimmed a 10-point deficit to three late in the first half, saw the Hawks go on a 12-3 spurt to end the opening period and take a 51-39 advantage heading into the break. Quincy connected on seven of its 11 three-pointers in the opening period and shot 56.7 percent in the first 20 minutes.

Despite falling behind by 13 early in the second period, USI rallied behind seniors Amie Newhart, Ellen Young, and Courtney Perry. The trio combined for 17 points in an 18-4 run that turned a 58-45 deficit into the Eagles only lead of the second half.

Quincy, however, converted 5-of-6 free throws and got a big three-pointer during the Eagles' four-minute drought as it turned momentum back into its favor.

Still, the Eagles charged back, cutting Quincy's advantage to 72-69 with just under seven minutes to play. Once again, though, Quincy answered the Eagles' run, using a 7-0 spurt to increase its lead to 10 points with five minutes to play.

USI could get no closer than eight points the rest of the game as the Hawks, who were averaging nearly 90 points per game heading into the contest, won their ninth straight game. “There is a reason they average 90 points per game,” Stein said. “They have a lot of weapons.”

The Eagles, who shot 55.2 percent from the field in the second half, outrebounded Quincy 38-28. Quincy, however, won the turnover battle, 21-14, and was 25-of-31 from the free throw line compared to USI's 12-of-16 effort.

“When you go on the road and give up 90 points, you can't expect to win consistently,” Stein said. “I thought we shot the ball well, rebounded well. We had too many turnovers and when we broke down, they made us pay for it.”

USI had five players in double figures, led by Young who racked up 24 points. Perry finished with a career-high tying 15 points and a game-high nine rebounds, while Newhart chipped in 13 points and a game-high seven assists.

Junior guard/forward Kristin Raker had 12 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, while senior guard Lauren Meneghetti contributed 11 points.

Quincy had four players in double figures, led by junior forward Ali Schwagmeyer and senior guard Stephanie Wagner. Schwagmeyer finished with a game-high 26 points to go with seven rebounds and five assists, while Wagner hit six three-pointers to finish with 20 points.

The Eagles begin a four-game homestand Monday at 5:15 p.m. when they host GLVC East Division rival Kentucky Wesleyan College at the Physical Activities Center. The Panthers (9-5, 3-4 GLVC) defeated the University of Illinois-Springfield, 66-48, Saturday in Springfield, Illinois.