at Southern Indiana (2-0): 102
Principia (0-1): 40
Box Score

EVANSVILLE, Ind.—Freshman forward/center Anna Hackert and freshman forward Brooke Valentine combined for 44 points and 10 rebounds as the University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team defeated NCAA Division III Principia College, 102-40, Tuesday night at the Physical Activities Center.

The Screaming Eagles (2-0) shot 56.6 percent from the field, 41.2 percent from downtown, as they posted their largest margin of victory (62 points) since defeating Calumet College of Saint Joseph's, 102-40, November 21, 2004.

Leading 9-6 early in the contest, the Eagles went on a 15-0 spurt that essentially put the game on ice with a little more than 10 minutes to play. Hackert and Valentine jump-started the run as each put the ball through the hoop on a pair of occasions.

Sophomore guard Ariel Barnes, who finished with nine points and three steals, followed with the next five points on a three-pointer and a jumper, while sophomore forward/center Nicole Hazemi, who added eight points and three assists, ended the spurt with a bucket.

Hackert, who had a game-high eight rebounds, scored 20 of her game-high 24 points in the opening period as the Eagles built a commanding 56-16 advantage at the break.

USI's defense smothered Principia in the opening period and throughout the entirety of the contest as it forced Principia into 25 first-half turnovers. The Eagles, who caused their opponent to commit 41 offensive miscues for the game, held the Lady Panthers to just nine shots in the first 20 minutes and 33 for the game.

USI's offense balanced out in the second period as 10 different players scored for the Eagles. Valentine paced USI in the second stanza as she scored 11 of her 20 points in the finals 20 minutes.

In addition to Hackert and Valentine, senior guard/forward Kristin Raker finished with 11 points and a pair of steals. Freshman guard Mariah Nimmo and sophomore guard Aubrey Minix, the only to players on USI's roster without a basket Tuesday night, led the Eagles with five and four assists, respectively.

The Eagles continue their season-opening four-game homestand Friday at 6 p.m. when they host Mid-Continent College at the PAC.