EVANSVILLE, Ind.----University of Southern Indiana senior Anna Hackert (Evansville, Indiana) posted her fourth double-double of the season, tallying a game-high 19 points and 16 rebounds, to cap a furious comeback in the Screaming Eagles' 72-64 victory over Midwest Region opponent Ashland University Saturday afternoon at the Physical Activities Center. Southern Indiana improves to 3-1 on the season, dropping visiting Ashland to 1-2.
 
Sophomore guard Tanner Marcum (New Albany, Indiana) followed behind Hackert's efforts, coming of the bench early in the first half, producing a career-high 17 points. Both led the Eagle's at the half with nine points.
 
USI opened the regional battle with a 10-5 lead, but Ashland soon closed in to tie it up at 12-12. Southern Indiana powered through to regain the front position but the visiting Eagles used an 8-0 run to shift the momentum in their favor, leaving USI trailing 24-20 with just under six minutes left in the half.
 
A layup by freshman guard Randa Harshbarger (Philo, Illinois), with under a minute left in the first, put USI ahead 34-32, but Ashland answered back with two points of their own, sending both teams into halftime tied at 34-34.
 
Back on the court, both teams battled up and down the court, but it was an 11-0 run by Southern Indiana, with 6:38 left in regulation play, that proved to be the game changer.
 
Ashland tried to rally back, coming within three points of USI, but a layup by senior Mary O'Keefe (Edwardsville, Illinois) followed by three USI free throws ended the game in favor of the Screaming Eagles.
 
USI won the rebounding battle 44-41 while shooting 39% for the game and 7-of-17 from outside.
 
Ashland was led by Taylor Woods' 18 points, along with Andi Daugherty's nine rebounds, while shooting 37% from the field.
 
The Eagles return to the court Tuesday taking on Brescia University at 6 p.m. before squaring off with Harris Stowe State University and Newberry College in the USI Thanksgiving Classic November 29 and 30.
 
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