Southern Indiana (7-2, 1-0 GLVC): 70
at Rockhurst (5-5, 0-2 GLVC): 44
-Box Score:
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KANSAS CITY, Mo.—The University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team used a fast start and strong finish en route to a 70-44 victory over Rockhurst University in its Great Lakes Valley Conference opener Friday evening.
USI (7-2, 1-0 GLVC) scored the game's first 12 points to establish control of the contest early, but a 16-8 run saw the host Hawks pull within four points with 4:22 to play in the opening period.
The Screaming Eagles, however, rebounded as junior guard
Autumn Miller and senior guard
Stephanie Carpenter hit back-to-back three-pointers in an 11-3 spurt that gave USI a 31-19 halftime advantage.
"Really, it was the beginning and end of the first half that we were able to take control," USI Head Coach
Rick Stein said. "We had good looks in the middle of that stretch, but just couldn't find the basket. We were still defending though and that was huge to be able to hold them to 19 points in the first half."
Junior guard
Libby Ogden scored five points in the first three minutes of the second half as the Eagles quickly extended their advantage to 39-21. "Libby really stepped up big for us tonight," Stein said. "It was probably her best game in a Screaming Eagles' uniform, not just because of her scoring, but everything she was able to do."
The Eagles continued to add to their advantage as Ogden and Miller hit three-pointers to give USI a 47-24 lead with 14 minutes to play. Ogden racked up 10 of her career-high 12 points in the second half as the Eagles inflated their cushion to as much as 27 with nine minutes to play.
Including Ogden's 12 points, four players reached double-figures for the Eagles. Junior forward/center
Anna Hackert recorded her second double-double of the year with a game-high 13 points and 11 rebounds, while Miller and senior forward/center
Nicole Hazemi each chipped in 11 points. Hackert had 10 points at the break and racked up seven rebounds in the final 20 minutes.
USI, which drained seven three-pointers in the contest, shot 45.5 percent (15-33) from the field in the second period after making just 9-of-26 in the opening frame.
"We need to have success on the road if we are going to compete for a conference title," Stein said. "To start on the road in conference play, get that first win, and have a chance at a road sweep is a huge start for us."
The Eagles return to action Sunday when they travel to Liberty, Missouri, to take on William Jewell College. The Cardinals (7-3, 2-0 GLVC) defeated Bellarmine University, 70-62, Friday evening.
