EVANSVILLE, Ind.—Four University of Southern Indiana Women's Basketball players reached double-figures Thursday evening as the Screaming Eagles earned a 70-55 Great Lakes Valley Conference home win over visiting Maryville University at Screaming Eagles Arena.
The Eagles (19-4, 13-2 GLVC), who were sixth in the first NCAA II Midwest Region rankings that were released Wednesday afternoon, jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the opening period and never looked back in a wire-to-wire win.
Maryville (11-12, 7-10 GLVC), which trailed 21-9 midway through the opening half, closed USI's lead to two points (25-23) with just under five minutes to play in the second quarter. USI, however, scored nine straight points to push its lead back to double-digits before going into the break with a 37-25 lead.
USI never led its lead slip below nine points in the second half as it led by as much as 19 before settling on the 15-point win.
Junior forward
Hannah Haithcock (Washington Courthouse, Ohio) had 14 points and seven rebounds off the bench to lead the Eagles, who held a 31-18 lead in bench points. Junior guard
Addy Blackwell (Bloomington, Indiana) added 13 points, five boards, three assists and two steals.
Fifth-year senior guard
Ashley Hunter (Flossmoor, Illinois) added 11 points and three assists in a reserve role, while sophomore forward
Meredith Raley (Haubstadt, Indiana) finished with 11 points. Hunter had nine of her 11 points in the opening period, while junior forward
Tara Robbe (Wildwood, Missouri) led USI with nine rebounds.
Junior forward Taylor Kirby led the Saints with 13 points and 12 rebounds, while junior guards Antoinette Mussorici and Carsyn Fearday each had 11 points.
The Eagles return to action Saturday at 1 p.m. when they host Missouri University of Science & Technology at Screaming Eagles Arena. The Miners (10-13, 7-10 GLVC) have won two straight games following a 70-65 road win over the University of Indianapolis Thursday evening.
Notes: USI moved into second place in the latest GLVC Point Rating System standings. The Eagles have a rating of 4.27, trailing Missouri-St. Louis, which has a 4.32 rating. Drury (4.15), Truman State (3.88) and Lewis (3.67) round out the top five.
