Kentucky Wesleyan (19-7, 14-4 GLVC): 74
at Southern Indiana (17-9, 9-9 GLVC): 67
-Box Score:
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EVANSVILLE, Ind.—An old-fashioned three-point play followed by a turnover and two Kentucky Wesleyan College free throws in the final 1:07 of the game proved to be the difference-maker as the University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team suffered a 74-67 Great Lakes Valley Conference setback to the visiting Panthers Thursday evening at the Physical Activities Center.
USI (17-9, 9-9 GLVC) battled back from a nine-point second half deficit as junior guard
Stephanie Carpenter's fifth three-pointer put the Screaming Eagles up, 64-61 with less than six minutes to play in the contest.
But the Eagles went without a field goal throughout the final 5:48 of the game as Kentucky Wesleyan outscored USI, 13-3, to claim a share of the GLVC East Division title and a regular-season sweep of the Eagles.
The Eagles shot nearly 50 percent in the opening period and lead by as many as 10, but a 19-0 Kentucky Wesleyan run turned a 30-22 USI lead into a nine-point deficit late in the period.
USI trailed 42-36 at the break and, after the two teams traded three-point baskets in the opening minute of the second period, Kentucky Wesleyan junior guard Karly Rhoads hit a three-pointer to stake the Panthers to a 48-39 advantage.
The Eagles slowly chipped away at the Panthers' lead, using free throws by sophomore forward/centers
Anna Hackert and
Mary O'Keefe as well as a three-pointer by Carpenter to trim their deficit to four (49-45) with 17 minutes to play.
Baskets by O'Keefe in the next three minutes kept the Eagles within four points and a three-pointer by sophomore guard
Mariah Nimmo cut the deficit to one (53-52) with 13:31 remaining.
Neither team could get a field goal to fall throughout the next three minutes, but after Kentucky Wesleyan extended its advantage to 55-52 with a pair of free throws, Carpenter rang up another shot from downtown to bring the Eagles into a 55-55 stalemate with 10 minutes on the clock.
After USI tied the game at 57-57 on a basket by junior guard
Ariel Barnes with nine minutes to play, the Eagles took their first lead of the period a minute later on a layup by Barnes.
Both teams traded scores throughout the next two minutes, but the three-pointer by Carpenter with 5:48 gave USI a 64-61 edge. Kentucky Wesleyan (19-7, 14-4 GLVC) quickly answered with a two-point basket; then after two minutes of scoreless basketball, senior guard Bianca Barton hit a three-pointer to put the Panthers up, 66-64.
Both teams struggled from the field in the final three minutes, but an old-fashioned three-point play by Kentucky Wesleyan junior guard Kourtney Rhoads with just over a minute to play put the Panthers up, 70-65.
Barnes had a pass intercepted in USI's next possession and Kentucky Wesleyan followed with a pair of free throws to essentially end any chance of a USI comeback.
Carpenter paced the Eagles with 16 points, while O'Keefe had 15 points and five rebounds. Barnes added 11 points and three assists, while Hackert, who was on the bench with foul trouble for much of the contest, had seven points and five rebounds before fouling out.
Barton led all scorers with 19 points, while senior guard Laruen Goffinet poured in 12 points and seven rebounds for the Panthers, who claimed the decision in the last-ever GLVC meeting between the two long-time rivals.
USI begins the GLVC Tournament Sunday when it plays the University of Indianapolis in the first round. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. (CST) in Indianapolis. USI is the 11th seed in the tournament, while the Greyhounds (18-8, 11-7 GLVC) are the sixth seed.
