LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – University of Southern Indiana Women's Basketball closed out its three-game road swing with a high-scoring battle against the University of Arkansas at Little Rock on Sunday, but the Screaming Eagles fell in overtime to the Trojans, 89-83.
 
Southern Indiana dropped to 12-5 overall and 4-2 in the Ohio Valley Conference following Sunday's result and a 1-2 mark during the three-game road stretch. USI moved into a tie for third in the conference standings. Little Rock improved to 7-8 this season and tied for second in the league with a 5-1 OVC record.
 
Sunday's game took place a day later than originally scheduled after inclement winter weather in the Little Rock area postponed the matchup from Saturday.
 
In a competitive start to the ballgame, senior guard Vanessa Shafford drained a corner three just over a minute into the contest to set a new all-time record for most three-pointers in USI Women's Basketball history. Shafford cashed in her 195^th career three to pass Stephanie Carpenter's (2010-14) previous all-time mark of 194.
 
The two sides exchanged baskets for most of the opening quarter. Shafford's second triple of the game gave Southern Indiana a 15-9 lead at the 4:36 mark. Following a three-minute dry spell from the floor, sophomore guard Triniti Ralston hit a three of her own to push USI ahead by nine, 20-11, but Little Rock ended the opening frame with five straight points to make the score 20-16 in favor of the Screaming Eagles.
 
The USI advantage remained between four to six points for most of the second quarter. Following another three-minute drought by both teams in the back half of the second period, Little Rock came back to take the lead, 30-28, with two minutes to go before halftime. However, Southern Indiana reclaimed the lead inside the final minute of the first half with a three-point play from sophomore guard Sophia Loden and a last-second layup by sophomore guard Chloe Gannon. USI went into recess up 35-32.
 
Little Rock came out of the locker room with seven consecutive points to force Southern Indiana to take a quick timeout in the third quarter. The Eagles responded to tie the game at 39 three minutes into the second half. Later, graduate forward Meredith Raley scored six points in a three-minute span to propel USI back in front, 43-41. The Trojans made another surge before two three-point plays by Raley and Ralston flipped the scoreboard back in USI's favor, 53-48, with 90 seconds left in the third.  Southern Indiana's lead increased to nine, 59-50, by the end of the third after a four-point possession.
 
The Trojans had another hot start to the fourth frame, going on a 10-2 spurt to draw back within one of USI, 61-60, near the midway point of the quarter. Raley continued her strong second half offensively, scoring at the 3:37 mark to give Southern Indiana an eight-point lead and reaching 20 points in the game for the second consecutive outing and third time in the last four games. Little Rock inched its way back and grabbed the lead, 75-73, on a three-pointer with 30 seconds left. A driving layup by junior guard Ali Saunders with under 20 seconds left tied the game and led to overtime.
 
In the overtime period, Little Rock grabbed early momentum and went ahead by five, 80-75. Southern Indiana answered back to within a point twice in the middle of overtime, but the Trojans capitalized on free throws down the stretch to capture the win.
 
Southern Indiana shot 49 percent (31-63) for the game and 31 percent (5-16) from three. USI was 16-19 for 84 percent at the foul line. The Screaming Eagles won the rebounding battle, 35-30. USI had five players finish in double figures with Raley leading the way with 25 points, 19 of which came in the second half. The performance follows Raley's career-high 29 points in the Eagles' win at Southeast Missouri State University on Thursday. Ralston dropped 16 points and Saunders added 12 points. Shafford posted her third double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Loden also notched 10 points in the game.
 
Little Rock went for 57 percent (33-58) from the floor and 29 percent (6-21) from beyond the arc. The Trojans were 65 percent (17-26) at the free-throw line. Junior forward Faith Lee led four Trojans in double digits with a game-high 27 points.
 
Southern Indiana returns to Liberty Arena, home of the Screaming Eagles, next week for a pair of home games. The homestand begins Thursday at 5 p.m. against Lindenwood University for another $8.12 Night with Evansville Hacienda West and wraps up Saturday against Western Illinois University for Military Appreciation Day at 1 p.m. Tickets for all home games at Liberty Arena can be purchased online at usiscreamingeagles.com or the USI Ticket Office.