ST. CHARLES, Mo.—The University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team saw an 18-point second half lead slip away as No. 8 Drury University defeated the Screaming Eagles, 68-65, in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Championship Tournament game Sunday afternoon at the Family Arena.

USI (25-6), which saw its 11-game winning streak come to a halt, dominated the opening period as it shot 53.3 percent on 16-of-30 shooting to build a 38-28 halftime advantage.

The Screaming Eagles used a 9-0 run early in the second period to turn a nine-point edge into a commanding 51-33 lead with 13:30 to play.

Drury (26-3), however, used tenacious defense to charge back throughout the next six-plus minutes of the contest. The Panthers forced the Eagles into five turnovers as they scored the next 12 points to pull to within six points.

A free throw by senior guard Libby Ogden (Tipton, Indiana) ended USI's near seven-minute scoring drought; then a basket by senior forward/center Anna Hackert (Evansville, Indiana) moments later put USI up 54-45 with just under seven minutes to play.

The Panthers, though, responded with a 12-0 run during the next minute-and-a-half to build their first lead since the opening stages of the game.

A pair of free throws and a basket by sophomore guard Tanner Marcum (New Albany, Indiana) staked USI to a brief 58-57 lead; but a three-pointer by sophomore guard Alice Heinzler gave Drury a 60-58 lead with four minutes to play.

Marcum, who finished with 10 points, hit a pair of baskets throughout the next two minutes as USI retook the lead; then a pair of free throws by senior forward/center Mary O'Keefe (Edwardsville, Illinois) put USI up 64-60 with just under two minutes on the clock.

After Drury used a 5-0 run to retake the lead, the Eagles had a chance to go back on top with a field goal. Hackert's pass, however, to freshman guard/forward Kaydie Grooms (Marshall, Illinois), who was open on the perimeter, sailed about half an inch to high and the Eagles were forced to foul.

Drury extended its lead to 67-64 at the free throw line and USI could not get a clean look at a three-pointer in the final 10 seconds as the Panthers held on for their 14th straight win.

Hackert, who, along with Marcum, earned All-Tournament honors, led USI with 12 points and 13 rebounds. O'Keefe added 10 points for the Eagles, who committed 24 turnovers in the game, including 16 in the final 20 minutes.

Drury was led by senior guard Shelby White's 16 points and six rebounds, while Heinzler and Tournament Most Outstanding Player Sanayika Shields each had 14 points.

USI learns its post-season fate when the NCAA Division II Tournament selections are announced on ncaa.com tonight at nine o'clock.