Southern Indiana (16-9, 12-5 GLVC): 76
at Bellarmine (11-14, 6-11 GLVC): 53
Box Score

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team shot 56.7 percent in the first half and a season-best 54.2 percent for the game as it defeated Bellarmine University, 76-53, Thursday evening to clinch the Great Lakes Valley Conference East Division title and the right to host a first round game in the GLVC Tournament.

USI (16-9, 12-5 GLVC) used a 27-6 run in the opening period en route to a 41-22 halftime advantage. Senior guard Ellen Young scored 14 of her game-high 19 points in the first half as the Screaming Eagles took control of the contest.

Despite getting a basket from senior guard Amie Newhart, who finished with 12 points and four assists, early in the second period to go up by 21, the Eagles saw the host Knights make a push to eventually trim the deficit to 13 midway through the final half.

Junior guard Cootie Leeberg, however, scored seven straight points as the Eagles turned a 53-40 advantage into a comfortable 20-point cushion with 6:32 to play in the game. Leeberg, who finished with 11 points and four assists, scored 11 straight points for the Eagles, who never let their lead slip below 15 points for the remainder of the game.

Defensively, the Eagles forced the Knights (11-14, 6-11 GLVC) into 29 turnovers as they held the opposition to less than 60 points for the fourth time in the last five games and the school-record tying 12th time this season.

The Eagles, who finished their season-high five-game road trip with a 4-1 record, conclude the regular season Saturday at 1 p.m. when they host Northern Kentucky University at the Physical Activities Center. The Norse (16-9, 10-7 GLVC) defeated the University of Indianapolis, 52-42, Thursday evening in Indianapolis.