LEBANON, Ill.—The University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team opened the contest with a pair of runs en route to a 67-53 victory over Great Lakes Valley Conference East Division foe McKendree University Thursday evening at the Harry M. Statham Center in Lebanon, Illinois.

USI (15-5, 7-3 GLVC) utilized a 21-5 run to take a 13 point lead on the Bearcats midway through the first half after falling behind early 3-0.

The Eagles gave up just six points to the Bearcats in the first 9:28 of the game, while scoring 19 points and taking a double-digit lead USI never relented. After taking a 17-point advantage at the half, the Eagles increased their lead to its largest point at 45-21 with 16:02 left in the second half. McKendree began to chip away at USI's lead, getting within 11 points twice in the final ten minutes of play, before the Eagles pulled away once again.

Senior forward/center Anna Hackert notched her 15^th double-double of the season with 16 points and 15 rebounds in the victory. The double-double is Hackert's 40^th of her Eagles' career, which ties former Eagle all-american LeAnn Freeland (1993-97) for most all-time. Hackert added a season-high four blocks, as well, falling just one shy of tying her career-high of five which came in last year's 100-49 dismantling of McKendree.
 
Sophomore guard Tanner Marcum rewarded head coach Rick Stein for her first collegiate start with 16 points on 8-11 shooting. Senior forward/center Mary O'Keefe came off the bench to tally 16 total points and five rebounds, with 10 of her points coming in the first half.

The Eagles shot 44.4 percent (28-63) from the field on the night, including 42.9 percent (3-7) from beyond the arc. USI held McKendree to just 33.9 percent (20-59) from the floor in the contest and forced 19 turnovers from the Bearcats.

Nine of 10 Eagles to see the floor scored, with Hackert, Marcum, and O'Keefe leading the team as the only double-figure scorers. Senior Mariah Nimmo buried both of her three-point attempts for six points, while senior Autumn Miller added five points, three assists, and a pair of steals and rebounds.

Senior forward/center Cayla Herbst made her first start in four years as an Eagle, tallying two points and two rebounds before succumbing to foul trouble early in the first half.

The Eagles won the rebounding battle 44-36 over McKendree with a 10-9 advantage in offensive rebounds. USI capitalized on its ten offensive rebounds by scoring 24 second-chance points on the evening.

Junior guard Kelsee Ennis paced the Bearcats (2-16, 2-8 GLVC) with 11 points, while sophomore guard Amber Alexander chipped in 10 points.

The Eagles return to action Saturday at 1:00 p.m. when they visit the Prairie Stars of the University of Illinois Springfield in Springfield, Illinois.