at Southern Indiana (10-7, 6-3 GLVC): 85
Kentucky Wesleyan (9-6, 3-5 GLVC): 68
Box Score

EVANSVILLE, Ind.—Senior guards Amie Newhart and Lauren Meneghetti combined for 33 second-half points to lead the University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team to a hard-fought 85-68 victory over GLVC East Division rival Kentucky Wesleyan College Monday evening at the Physical Activities Center.

After overcoming a late seven-point deficit in the opening period to take a 33-31 halftime advantage, the Screaming Eagles found themselves clinging to a 46-44 lead with 14 minutes to play in the game.

Meneghetti, who had 14 of her 16 points in the final 20 minutes, had a pair of free throws and a three-pointer on an assist by Newhart to extend the Eagles lead to 51-44.

Newhart, who finished with a season-high 27 points and a game-high five assists, drained a three-pointer with just over 12 minutes to play to stake the Eagles to a 54-47 advantage. Newhart's jumper with 10 minutes to play extended the Eagles' advantage to 60-50, while Meneghetti's three-pointer, on an assist from Newhart, gave the Eagles a 13-point edge 40 seconds later.

Kentucky Wesleyan (9-6, 3-5 GLVC) scored five straight points to cut the Eagles advantage to 63-55, but an old-fashioned three-point play by Meneghett with just over seven minutes to play gave the Eagles an 11-point lead that would not fall below double digits the remainder of the game.

For good measure, Newhart hit a layup and a three pointer in the next minute-and-a-half to extend USI's lead to 72-55, capping off a 9-0 run that essentially ended any chance of a Kentucky Wesleyan upset.

The Eagles (10-7, 6-3 GLVC), who used a 12-0 run to end the first half and begin the second period, held the Panthers to just 30.8 percent shooting from the field in the last frame. The Eagles also did a good job getting to the free throw line in the final 20 minutes as they went 19-of-25 from the charity stripe as opposed to just 3-of-4 in the first half.

In addition to Newhart and Meneghetti, who finished with six rebounds, the Eagles go 14 points and a game-high eight rebounds from senior guard Ellen Young.

Senior forward/center Courtney Perry had nine points and seven rebounds, while junior guard/forward Kristin Raker added eight points and six rebounds. Junior guard Cootie Leeberg also had eight points and four assists.

As a team, the Eagles outrebounded the Panthers 46-32, marking the seventh straight game the Eagles have outrebounded the opposition and the fifth time in seven games the Eagles have held a double-digit advantage on the glass.

Freshmen guard Kourtney Rhoads and Karly Rhoads led the Panthers with 14 and 11 points, respectively, while junior center Katie Behrens chipped in nine points and a team-high seven rebounds.

USI continues its four-game homestand Saturday when it hosts the University of Indianapolis. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m. at the PAC.