SPRINGFIELD, Mo. --- Despite a strong fight, the University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team suffered a 70-56 Great Lakes Valley Conference setback to Drury University Thursday evening.

USI (10-10, 3-9 GLVC) opened the contest by going toe-to-toe with the 12^th-ranked Panthers, as the Eagles trailed by just three after the first period of play. Junior guard Tanner Marcum buried a triple at the quarter buzzer to conclude the period with just a 22-19 deficit for the Eagles.

The Eagles responded in the second quarter with tighter defense, forcing the Panthers into contested shots. After starting the contest 4-5 from three point range, USI held Drury to just 1-9 shooting from deep to conclude the first half.
 
A 5-0 run beginning in with Marcum's end of the period three and concluding with a Marcum jumped helped propel the Eagles in front of the Panthers early in the second quarter. USI out-rebounded Drury 21-16 in the first half, including eight offensive rebounds. USI's strong first half play was aided by the Eagles scoring 26 of their 34 points in the paint and capitalizing with 12 second-chance points.
 
Drury was quick to open up as large as an eight point advantage coming out of the break. USI quickly battled back to cut the Panther lead to just 47-43 in the final minutes of the third period. The Panthers wasted no time in reversing the tide by executing a 13-2 run to take a 60-45 lead in the first minutes of the final period.

USI shot just 36.5 percent (23-63) from the field for the game after opening the contest shooting 46.9% (15-32). The Panthers, meanwhile, shot 39.7 percent (23-58) from the field.

Marcum led the Eagles with 14 points and six rebounds, while freshman forward Kacy Eschweiler set career marks with 12 points and seven rebounds. Sophomore guard/forward Kaydie Grooms added 12 points and six rebounds.

Junior forward Briana Jones led the Panthers with 21 points, six rebounds, and four steals. Jones, who entered the contest 5-9 from three on the year, shot 5-8 from deep on the night.

The Eagles return to action Saturday at 1 p.m. when they travel to Rolla, Missouri to challenge the Miners of Missouri University of Science and Technology.