LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Sophomore forward Morgan Dahlstrom (Grayslake, Illinois) scored a career-high 16 points as the University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team cruised to a 63-43 Midwest Region victory over Northern Michigan University in the first round of the Bellarmine Classic Saturday afternoon.

USI (8-1) used a 13-3 run that spanned the final seven minutes of the third quarter and the first 30 seconds of the fourth quarter to turn a 30-29 lead into a commanding 11-point advantage.

Northern Michigan (2-7), which trailed for all but 45 seconds, was down 28-22 at the half and 30-22 following a quick bucket by junior guard Tanner Marcum (New Albany, Indiana) early in the third quarter. The Wildcats, however, used a 7-0 run to trim USI's cushion to a single digit.

Dahlstrom ended the Screaming Eagles' slide when she put the ball through the hoop with just under seven minutes to play in the third quarter.

Junior forward Hannah Wascher (Rantoul, Illinois) used a nice pass from sophomore guard Randa Harshbarger (Philo, Illinois) to give the Eagles a five-point lead with six minutes to play; then Marcum used a pass from Harshbarger to score on a layup, putting USI up 36-29 less than 40 seconds later.

Wascher and Dahlstrom wrapped a pair of baskets around a Northern Michigan three-pointer to put the Eagles up 40-32 heading into the fourth quarter.

Marcum, who finished with 15 points and two assists, hit a three-pointer early in the fourth quarter to cap off the run and kick-off a dominating final period that saw the Eagles outscore the Wildcats 23-11.

USI never trailed in the contest as Marcum scored the first points of the game less than 20 seconds into the contest. The Eagles used a 6-0 run that featured a pair of baskets by Dahlstrom to break a 2-2 tie and build an 8-2 lead it would not relinquish.

In addition to Dahlstrom and Marcum, the Eagles got nine points and five rebounds from Wascher as well as eight points, five assists, and four steals from Harshbarger. Sophomore guard/forward Kaydie Grooms (Marshall, Illinois) finished with two points, six assists, and two steals.

USI shot 50.0 percent (25-50) and held the Wildcats to 31.1 percent (19-61) from the field. Dahlstrom went 6-of-8 from the field, while Marcum was 7-of-10 from the floor.

The Eagles complete the Bellarmine Classic Sunday at Noon (CST) when take on Ferris State University. The game can be listened to on WPSR 90.7 FM, while live stats, video, and audio can be accessed at GoUSIEagles.com.