EVANSVILLE, Ind.—University of Southern Indiana Women's Basketball earned its 600th win Tuesday evening with a dominating 83-37 victory over the University of Alabama-Huntsville at the Physical Activities Center.
 
USI (4-0) outscored the Chargers 44-7 in the second half, using a 38-0 run at one point to turn a 45-34 lead into a 49-point cushion late in the contest. Only a three-pointer in the final 20 seconds of the game prevented the Screaming Eagles from pitching a shutout in the fourth quarter.
 
After seeing a 10-point second-quarter lead trimmed to just two points, the Eagles went on an 11-4 run to close the first half with a 39-30 halftime advantage.
 
The Eagles scored four quick points out of the break up their advantage to 13 early in the third quarter. After trading baskets with the Chargers during the next three minutes, USI found itself with a 45-34 lead with less than six minutes to play in the third period.
 
That's when USI's defense took over. The Eagles held Alabama-Huntsville scoreless for the remaining five minutes, 47 seconds of the third quarter and the first 9:40 of the fourth as they blew past the Chargers with the 38-0 run.
 
"I thought we raised our level another notch," Head Coach Rick Stein said. "I thought we played hard in the first, but our intensity level just went up one more notch. Our communication on the defensive end has been our mainstay so far and to hold a team to seven points in the second half, I just would have never guessed it."
 
Junior guard/forward Kaydie Grooms (Marshall, Illinois) led the Eagles with a game-high 17 points to go along with three assists and three steals; while junior forward Morgan Dahlstrom (Grayslake, Illinois) had 14 points and a team-best seven rebounds. Sophomore center Kacy Eschweiler (St. Charles, Missouri) added 13 points; while junior guard Randa Harshbarger (Philo, Illinois) had a game-high four assists.
 
Sophomore guard Baylee Johnson had nine points to lead Alabama-Huntsville, which dropped to 0-3 on the season.
 
As a team, the Eagles shot 49.3 percent (35-71) from the field, including 57.1 percent (12-21) in the third quarter. USI held the Chargers to just 34.8 percent (16-46) from the field, including 15.8 percent (3-19) in the final 20 minutes.
 
USI also held a 41-25 advantage on the glass and forced the Chargers into 25 turnovers, 18 of which came in the final 20 minutes.
 
The Eagles return to action Saturday at 2:30 p.m. when they host Young Harris College in the second game of the USI Thanksgiving Classic at the PAC. USI also plays Midwest Region foe Michigan Tech University Sunday at 2:30 p.m., while Great Lakes Valley Conference rival Bellarmine University plays Michigan Tech Saturday at noon and Young Harris Sunday at noon.