EVANSVILLE, Ind.—University of Southern Indiana Women's Basketball saw its first-half struggles continue Thursday evening as it fell to the University of Indianapolis, 73-64, in a Great Lakes Valley Conference contest at the Physical Activities Center.
 
USI (10-8, 3-7 GLVC) committed 10 turnovers in the opening half and trailed 40-20 at one juncture in the second quarter before rallying for eight straight points to go into the intermission trailing 40-28.
 
UIndy (6-14, 4-6 GLVC) used a 14-0 run that lasted more than three minutes of the second period to build a 33-18 lead with four minutes to play in the first half. The Greyhounds answered a USI basket moments later with a 7-0 spurt to build the 20-point advantage with two minutes to play in the opening half.
 
During what amounted to be a 21-2 run, the Screaming Eagles went just 1-of-7 (.143) from the field, while UIndy went 7-of-8 (.875) floor.
 
Sophomore guard Tanner Marcum (New Albany, Indiana) ignited the 8-0 run that gave the Eagles life heading into the break. Marcum, who led the Eagles with 11 first-half points, broke a six-minute long scoring drought when she converted a four-point play with 1:32 to play in the opening half.
 
Marcum and junior forward Hannah Wascher (Rantoul, Illinois) each had baskets in the final 40 seconds of the half as USI went into the break on a high note.
 
After two minutes of scoreless basketball to begin the third quarter, sophomore forward Morgan Dahlstrom (Grayslake, Illinois) scored on a layup to bring the Eagles to within 10 points.
 
The two teams traded punches for much of the third quarter, but a UIndy 7-2 push late in the frame staked the Greyhounds to a commanding 68-52 lead heading into the final period.
 
USI trailed by as much as 18 early in the fourth quarter before putting together one last run. The Eagles used a 9-0 spurt to cut the Greyhounds' advantage to eight with three minutes to play, but that was as close as the Eagles would get as they suffered their seventh straight setback.
 
Sophomore guard/forward Kaydie Grooms (Marshall, Illinois) had 15 points and seven rebounds to lead the Eagles, while Marcum added 14 points, six rebounds, and three assists. Wascher chipped in 13 points and nine rebounds, while Dahlstrom contributed nine points and eight rebounds.
 
Senior guard Princess German had 25 points, 18 of which came in the first 20 minutes, to lead the Greyhounds.
 
USI returns to action Saturday at 1 p.m. when it hosts Saint Joseph's College at the PAC. The Pumas (13-7, 6-4 GLVC) suffered an 85-65 setback to Bellarmine University Thursday evening in Louisville, Kentucky.
 
Saturday's game is USI's annual Hoops for Troops Military Appreciation Game. Free tickets will be given to veterans and military personnel of all eras and their guests. Tickets can be picked up the day of the game with military identification and/or proof of service in the front of the PAC. The event is sponsored by the American Legion Post 324 and the USI Veteran Military and Family Resource Center.