EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team used a strong defensive effort and consistent offense to defeat Quincy University, 76-55, in a key Great Lakes Valley Conference bout Thursday evening at the Physical Activities Center.

USI (17-5, 9-3 GLVC) shot 46.8 percent from the field and held the visiting Hawks to 17 points below their season average as it won its third straight game.

The Screaming Eagles used a 17-2 run that spanned the final four minutes of the opening period and the first four minutes of the second half to turn a one-point USI lead into a commanding 42-26 advantage.

During the eight-minute stretch, which saw the Eagles go into the break with a 36-26 halftime advantage, USI held the Hawks to 0-of-11 shooting and forced five turnovers.

Offensively, the Eagles shot 6-of-12 from the field during the 17-2 run and got a combined 11 points from senior forward/center Anna Hackert (Evansville, Indiana) and senior guard Mariah Nimmo (Groveland, Illinois).

Hackert and senior guard Taylor Stevenson (Olney, Illinois) each had four points in a 10-2 USI run later in the second half that turned a 13-point advantage into an insurmountable 54-33 lead with 11 minutes to play.

USI, whose lead did not fall under 19 the remainder of the contest, led by as many as 26 points before settling on the 21-point victory.

Hackert, who went 9-of-13 from the floor, paced the Eagles with 18 points and nine rebounds, while Stevenson had a season-high 14 points to go along with a career-high tying seven rebounds. Nimmo and senior guard Autumn Miller (Louisville, Kentucky) each chipped in 10 points for the Eagles, who posted their largest margin of victory over the Hawks since claiming a 102-47 victory over Quincy on February 11, 1999.

Nimmo finished with three assists, while Miller racked up four steals for the Eagles, who clinched a spot in the GLVC Tournament while building a two-game lead for fourth place in the GLVC, which carries a first-round bye.

USI, which led from start-to-finish, out-rebounded the Hawks, 42-34, and held Quincy to just 35.2 percent from the field on 19-of-54 shooting. The Eagles held a 38-14 edge in points in the paint and saw their reserves outscore Quincy's bench 33-24.

Quincy (12-8, 7-5 GLVC) was led by junior forward Kara Gerbus's 18 points and six rebounds. Freshman forward Anika Webster chipped in 15 points and five rebounds.

The Eagles return to action Saturday at 1 p.m. when they host Truman State University for Homecoming at the PAC. The Bulldogs (12-8, 6-6 GLVC) suffered a 61-58 setback to Bellarmine University Thursday in Louisville, Kentucky.