EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women's Basketball took down Morehead State University, 78-59, on Saturday at Liberty Arena to move to 2-0 in Ohio Valley Conference play behind a career-high 35 points from senior guard Ali Saunders.
 
With the win, USI Women's Basketball (8-2, 2-0 OVC) won its fourth straight game while starting 2-0 in OVC action for the third season in a row. Meanwhile, Morehead State dropped to 4-8 overall and 0-2 in league play.
 
Saturday's 35-point performance from Saunders was USI's first 30-point game by a Screaming Eagle since Hannah Haithcock dropped 31 points at Lindenwood University on January 19, 2023. It is also the most in a single game by a USI player since former Eagle Emma DeHart tallied 39 points at Rockhurst University on February 6, 2021. Saunders, who reached 1,000 career points in recent weeks, passed her previous career best of 32 points, which she set while at Valparaiso University as a freshman against the University of Alabama Birmingham on November 21, 2022.
 
Saunders registered her 35-point performance on 10-22 shooting overall with six made threes and a perfect 9-9 at the free-throw line. The senior scored 25 of the 35 points in the second half. The guard also added five assists and four steals. Junior forward Chloe Gannon was second in scoring for the Screaming Eagles on Saturday with 15 points, and freshman forward Channah Gannon added 15 points for her third consecutive double-digit effort.
 
Collectively, USI shot above 40 percent (26-64) overall, totaled seven made triples, and went for 73 percent (19-26). The Screaming Eagles outrebounded Morehead State 40-27, with half of USI's total coming on the offensive glass. USI's defense was active again, forcing 25 turnovers to lead to 33 points. Morehead State shot for 46.5 percent (20-43) overall with five threes and below 61 percent (14-23) at the charity stripe.
 
It took a couple of minutes for the ball to fall through the hoop for USI on Saturday, but after Chloe Gannon got the Screaming Eagles on the board, USI built a quick 11-0 run to go up 11-2 by the 5:30 mark of the first quarter. USI's lead reached double digits late in the first quarter and reached a dozen, 26-14, at the end of the opening frame. The Screaming Eagles' defensive pressure forced nine Morehead State turnovers in the first period, leading to 16 points on USI's offensive end.
 
Like the first quarter, the second quarter featured another slow start for both sides. Three minutes into the second, Saunders knocked down a mid-range jumper on the baseline to reach 10 points in the game, as USI doubled up Morehead State on the scoreboard, 28-14. Channah Gannon provided a spark in the middle of the quarter, reaching double figures for the game and building USI's lead to 15, 34-19. However, Morehead State made a late run to bring the Screaming Eagles' lead down to eight, 38-30, at halftime.
 
The Screaming Eagles started the second half on the attack, going on a 10-0 run and forcing a quick Morehead State timeout. Saunders drained a pair of threes to ignite the run. Saunders also had a three-point play in the middle of the third quarter that gave USI a 51-34 advantage. Morehead State drew back within 10, 56-46, with a minute left in the third, but USI responded with four straight points to take a 60-46 lead to the fourth quarter.
 
Two minutes into the fourth, Saunders scored a layup to set a new USI career high, reaching the 25-point plateau. A few minutes later, Saunders canned a three-pointer to help USI maintain a 14-point lead, 67-53. Saunders was not done there, converting at the free-throw line and cashing in one more triple to post the new career-best 35 points. Saunders' run and a pair of makes from Chloe Gannon allowed USI to pull away and put a stamp on the win.
 
Next, the Screaming Eagles will make another quick turnaround and conclude their non-conference slate on Monday when USI travels to the University of Tennessee for a 5:30 p.m. CT tipoff against the ranked Lady Volunteers. Monday's game can be seen on SEC Network+ and heard on The Spin 95.7 FM.