EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women's Basketball followed up its Ohio Valley Conference-opening win on Thursday with another inside Liberty Arena on Saturday, defeating the University of Tennessee at Martin, 69-59.
 
With the win, Southern Indiana improved to 10-3 overall and 2-0 in conference play. Only two other teams, Lindenwood University and Eastern Illinois University, joined USI with a 2-0 start in the OVC after Saturday's game slate. UT Martin dropped to 3-9 this season and 1-1 in the OVC.
 
Saturday's game between USI and UT Martin was a rematch of the 2023-24 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament championship game when the Screaming Eagles captured their first-ever OVC tournament title last March.
 
The contest began in a tight battle with neither side getting a lead bigger than one possession for most of the opening quarter. Graduate forward Meredith Raley got off to a solid start, hitting a three-pointer to give Southern Indiana an 8-6 advantage nearly four minutes in. A triple by sophomore guard Sophia Loden gave USI its biggest lead of the first period, 15-11, at the two-minute mark. The Screaming Eagles led by one, 15-14, at the end of the first.
 
After UT Martin grabbed a brief lead early in the second quarter, Southern Indiana answered with an 11-0 run. Sophomore guard Triniti Ralston started the run with her second three of the game at the 7:54 mark of the second period. For the second consecutive outing, sophomore forward Amiyah Buchanan provided a boost off the bench, connecting inside on a couple of occasions to continue the run. The Eagles took a 28-18 lead with four and a half minutes left in the first half. Buchanan scored 10 second-quarter points and Ralston had nine, ending the first half with 12 points each. Southern Indiana shot for 69 percent in the second frame and held UT Martin to below 27 percent, leading to a 42-29 halftime lead for USI.
 
The Skyhawks came out of the intermission with seven straight points to pull within six, 42-36, but Ralston snapped the run and got USI on the board in the second half with a drive to the hoop. Ralston surged to the basket in the next possession to increase Southern Indiana's lead back to double digits, 46-36, at the midway point of the third quarter. The Eagles continued to attack the basket to carry a 53-38 lead to the fourth period.
 
The first two buckets of the fourth quarter belonged to UT Martin, but once again, Southern Indiana responded. Senior guard Vanessa Shafford cashed in a trey three minutes into the fourth to build USI's lead up to 16, 58-42. Despite UT Martin's efforts to cut USI's lead down to single digits in the middle of the quarter, the Screaming Eagles kept its margin in double figures the rest of the game.
Southern Indiana shot for just over 40 percent (24-59) overall and nearly 32 percent (7-22) from beyond the arc. The Eagles had another good showing at the free-throw line going 14-18 for nearly 78 percent. USI was also strong on the glass once again, outrebounding the Skyhawks 46-34.
 
Ralston led the Screaming Eagles by tying a game-high 18 points in 38 minutes of action. Buchanan and Shafford posted the first double-doubles of the season for USI on Saturday. Buchanan notched 12 points and 12 rebounds, while Shafford tallied 12 points and 10 boards. It was Buchanan's first career double-double and the 13th career double-double for Shafford.
 
UT Martin was 18-57 for under 32 percent from the floor and 6-26 for 23 percent from three-point range. The Skyhawks were 17-22 for just over 77 percent at the foul line. Redshirt junior guard Shae Littleford matched Ralston's 18 points, and redshirt sophomore guard Kenley McCarn added 15 points for the Skyhawks.
 
Following a week away from game action for the holidays, the Screaming Eagles return to action from Liberty Arena on Tuesday, December 31, at 5 p.m. against Morehead State University. The game can be seen with a subscription to ESPN+ and heard on The Spin 95.7 FM and WREF 97.7 FM.
 
Fans can ring in the New Year with USI at Liberty Arena with a special offer of four tickets, four sodas, and four popcorns for $20.25. Additional tickets are $5. For more information, call the USI Ticket Office at 812-465-1189 or visit the USI ticket website.