Tweet #usieagles

at Southern Indiana (8-0): 75
Cedarville (7-3): 59
-Box Scores: HTML | Sortable

EVANSVILLE, Ind.—Sophomore forward/center Anna Hackert scored six points in a span of 41 seconds to help the University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team repel a Cedarville University second-half surge and earn a hard-fought 75-59 victory in a Midwest Region bout at the Physical Activities Center Tuesday evening.

After using an 18-2 run in the opening frame to pull away from the visiting Yellow Jackets in the first half, the Screaming Eagles saw their 39-28 halftime advantage dwindle to just three points with less than 12 minutes (45-42) to play in the contest.

Hackert, who had just two points in the first 20 minutes, converted a pair of free throws to give USI a little breathing room; then scored back-to-back buckets as the Eagles increased their advantage to 51-42 with 10:30 to play.

Cedarville (7-3) got a three-pointer by junior guard Kayla Jenerette in the ensuing possession to trim the Eagles' advantage to six, but another bucket by Hackert followed by a basket by sophomore forward/center Cayla Herbst put the Eagles up by 10 with less than nine minutes to play.


USI (8-0) continued to add to its advantage as junior guard Ariel Barnes hit two straight baskets to put the Eagles up 59-47 with less than seven minutes on the clock. A pair of three-pointers by junior guard Stephanie Carpenter gave USI a commanding 19-point edge in the final two minutes of the contest and erased all doubt of the final outcome.

USI (8-0), which drained six of its eight three-pointers in the first half, dominated the paint in the second period as it outscored the Yellow Jackets 14-0 in the lane during the final 20 minutes. The Eagles shot 53.8 percent in the second half, 44.6 percent for the game, and held a 43-31 advantage on the glass.

Carpenter had 17 points and six rebounds to lead the Eagles, who have won all eight of their regular-season games by double-digits. Hackert finished with 16 points and eight rebounds, while Barnes and junior guard Jessica Parker each had 11 points. Barnes added four assists and three steals, while Parker racked up six rebounds and a career-high six assists.

Junior forward/center Nicole Hazemi rounded out the Eagles' double-digit scorers with 10 points and four rebounds, while Herbst racked up four assists and four rebounds.

Cedarville was paced by junior guard Becky Orchard, who finished with a game-high 18 points. Jenerette, Cedarville's leading scorer, added 11 points, all of which came in the final 13 minutes of the contest.

The Eagles, who have won nine straight regular-season games dating back to last year, return to action January 3 when they open Great Lakes Valley Conference play against the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Tip-off is slated for 5:15 p.m. at the PAC.