EVANSVILLE, Ind.—University of Southern Indiana Women's Basketball had seven different players score at least seven points Monday as the Screaming Eagles opened Great Lakes Valley Conference play with a 79-62 victory over the University of Indianapolis at Screaming Eagles Arena. The win marks the 700th in the history of USI Women's Basketball.
After ending the first half with a 31-28 lead, the Eagles erupted in the third period as they outscored the Greyhounds 29-20 to extend their cushion to double digits heading into the final 10 minutes.
Both teams shot the ball well in the third period, but the Eagles forced UIndy into 10 third-quarter turnovers and took six more shots than the Greyhounds as they began to take over.
USI (5-1, 1-0 GLVC) went just 4-of-12 from the floor in the fourth quarter, but a 3-of-5 (.600) effort from behind the arc during the final 10 minutes, coupled with an 8-for-8 effort from the free throw line, allowed the Eagles to extend their lead to as much as 20 points before settling on the 17-point victory.
Junior forward
Hannah Haithcock (Washington Courthouse, Ohio) paced the Eagles with a game-high 17 points, while senior guard
Emma DeHart (Indianapolis, Indiana) had 13 points, six rebounds and three assists.
Freshman guard
Vanessa Shafford (Linton, Indiana) had 11 points and a game-high seven rebounds, while junior guard
Addy Blackwell (Bloomington, Indiana) added 10 points and four steals. USI also got nine points and five rebounds from sophomore forward
Meredith Raley (Haubstadt, Indiana); eight points, five rebounds and three assists from senior forward
Ashlynn Brown (Perrysburg, Ohio); and seven points and three assists from junior guard
Tori Handley (Jeffersonville, Indiana).
UIndy (1-5, 0-1 GLVC) was led by freshman guard Elana Wells, who had 16 points, and senior guard Taylor Drury, who finished with 14 points.
The Eagles return to action Thursday at 5:30 p.m. when they visit the University of Illinois Springfield for their final GLVC game prior to the holiday break. The Prairie Stars (5-1, 1-0 GLVC) are coming off a dominating 81-52 win over visiting McKendree University Monday evening.
