EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Behind a career night from senior forward Madi Webb (Bedford, Indiana), University of Southern Indiana Women's Basketball defeated the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Thursday night, 58-48, at Screaming Eagles Arena to push the team's winning streak to seven games and six straight to start Ohio Valley Conference action.
 
With Thursday's victory, Southern Indiana improved to 11-5 overall and 6-0 in OVC play to maintain its first-place position in the conference standings. The Screaming Eagles also matched their OVC wins total from last season in 2022-23, USI's first season in Division I and as an OVC member, with Thursday's win.
 
As Southern Indiana tried to instill its style of play, Little Rock countered with its systematic approach. In a defensive contest early, USI scored the game's first four points in the first three minutes of play. Junior guard Vanessa Shafford (Linton, Indiana) scored four quick points for the Screaming Eagles, helping USI to a six-point lead, 9-3, by the four-minute mark of the first quarter. Little Rock answered back, and after each side drilled a three-pointer in the final minute of the opening frame, the Eagles carried a 13-12 advantage into the second quarter.
 
At the start of the second stanza, Webb drained a hook shot and Shafford canned a triple to put USI up, 18-14, a minute into the quarter. Even though defenses remained solid, a couple of timely made threes by Little Rock kept the Trojans close. Down the stretch of the first half, the contest crawled to within one possession. Aggressive drives from freshman guard Triniti Ralston (Louisville, Kentucky) led to points for the Screaming Eagles, but the Trojans eventually grabbed their first lead of the game. Little Rock led by one, 28-27, to conclude the first half.
 
Webb was an offensive catalyst for the Screaming Eagles coming out of halftime.  After four first-half points, Webb went to work in the post and at the foul line. USI regained the lead, 36-32, three minutes into the second half following a pair of makes by Webb and a trey from Shafford. Getting crafty on the block, Webb cashed in another pair of shots to extend Southern Indiana's lead to eight, 40-32, midway into the third. The Eagles maintained an eight-point advantage, 44-36, through three quarters, as Webb finished with 14 third-quarter points.
 
At the beginning of the fourth, Webb continued to put the ball through the bottom of the net, setting a new career high in the first minute of the fourth quarter. By the halfway point of the fourth, and with USI leading 49-43, neither team was willing to budge. Southern Indiana received a big make at the three-minute mark when Webb passed over a double-team to a wide-open senior forward Meredith Raley (Haubstadt, Indiana). The Eagles' lead reached double-digits, 56-45, with 90 seconds left when sophomore guard Ali Saunders (Depauw, Indiana) made a strong drive to the hoop for a three-point play, as USI closed out its seventh straight victory from there.
 
On Thursday, Southern Indiana shot 42.6 percent (20-47) with three triples against a stingy Little Rock team. USI went 15-19 at the free-throw line for 78.9 percent. The Screaming Eagles won the rebounding battle, 38-33, and outscored the Trojans in the paint, 30-14. Webb ended the night with a game-high and new career-best 22 points. The senior also corralled a new career-high 11 boards toward a second consecutive double-double and third of her career. Shafford posted 10 points, increasing her double-digit scoring streak to 14 games.
 
Little Rock was held to 30 percent (18-60) from the floor with six three-pointers. The Trojans were 6-8 at the charity stripe and had two players score double figures. With the loss, Little Rock dropped to 5-12 this season and third place in the Ohio Valley Conference with a 4-2 mark.
 
Southern Indiana resumes the homestand Saturday at 1 p.m. against Morehead State University (10-7, 5-1) from Screaming Eagles Arena in a battle of the two hottest teams and top two squads in the OVC standings. Saturday's game can be seen live with a subscription to ESPN+ and heard on 95.7 FM The Spin (http://957thespin.com). Saturday's game against Morehead State can also be heard on 97.7FM WREF.
 
Saturday's USI-Morehead State game is Military Appreciation Day at Screaming Eagles Arena. Saturday's military appreciation includes free tickets for veterans and their guests. Proof of service will be required, and tickets are limited to five (5) per veteran may be picked up the day of the game at Will Call. Military Appreciation Day tickets are courtesy of the USI Student Veteran Association.
 
Tickets for the Morehead State game are on sale and can be purchased by visiting the USI Ticket Office online. For more information, call the USI Ticket Office at 812-465-1189.