Wayne State (MI) (7-1): 82
Southern Indiana (6-2): 74
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LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team suffered a tough 82-74 setback to Midwest Region foe Wayne State University Saturday evening in a game that featured 15 lead changes and nine ties. The loss concludes USI's play in the MetroMedical Solutions Classic and its non-conference schedule.
Leading by one with just over two minutes to play, Wayne State turned to its leading scorer, junior center Shareta Brown, whose old-fashioned three-point play with 2:11 to play sparked a 7-0 game-clinching run. Brown missed two straight layups, but got her own rebound on each miss before laying the ball in the hoop on the third attempt despite being fouled in the process.
Brown, who had five the Warriors points during the spurt, connected on the free throw as Wayne State forged a 68-64 advantage.
"Second-chance opportunities for number 24 (Brown) is bad for anybody," USI Head Coach
Rick Stein said in his post-game interview with WPSR's
Michael Robertson. "She's a heck of a player and she really showed it tonight."
Brown finished the contest with 22 points and a game-high 13 rebounds; but it was her effort in the final three minutes—she scored 13 of her team's final 19 points—that was the difference in what was a back-and-forth contest.
USI (6-2) jumped out to a six-point edge three times early in the game; but each time the Screaming Eagles gained the early advantage, Wayne State fought back. The Eagles did a good job of getting to the free throw line in the first half, where they went 13-of-15, but five three-pointers by Wayne State allowed the Warriors to stay in contention.
Despite forcing the Warriors into 12 first-half turnovers, the Eagles' were settled on a 37-36 halftime advantage.
Neither team was able to create separation throughout the first 17 minutes of the second half, though four three-pointers by senior guard
Stephanie Carpenter in the first 10 minutes of the period gave the Eagles' a slight edge (54-51) with 10:36 to play.
Wayne State (7-1), however, scored four straight points to take a brief 55-54 with 9:26 on the clock. The two teams swapped baskets and leads throughout the next five minutes, but Brown's layup with just under three minutes remaining gave the Warriors a 65-62 edge.
Junior forward/center
Anna Hackert, who finished with 11 points, three assists, and three rebounds despite missing significant time due to foul trouble, cut Wayne State's advantage to 65-64 with a pair of free throws on USI's next possession. That was as close as USI would get the remainder of the game as the Warrior's 7-0 run gave them a comfortable 72-64 cushion with 1:09 to play.
"We knew we were going to have an NCAA-type atmosphere," Stein said. "We were playing a sweet 16 opponent from last year and it was a physical, back-and-forth game. They just made a few more plays down the stretch than we did."
Carpenter, who was named to the All-Tournament team, led all scorers with a career-high 24 points, 17 of which came in the final period. USI, which had an 18-17 lead on the glass at the break, lost the rebounding battle, 45-38, for the game.
The Eagles return to action January 3 when they open Great Lakes Valley Conference action against Rockhurst University. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m. in Kansas City, Missouri.
