EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women's Basketball collected its second big win of the week Saturday when the Screaming Eagles posted a 79-42 senior night win against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, completing a homestand sweep inside Liberty Arena on the week.
 
Saturday's win gave USI its 20^th win of the season toward a second consecutive 20-win campaign and 15^th season with at least 20 wins. Southern Indiana (20-9, 12-6) already clinched its 36^th winning season.
 
In the Ohio Valley Conference picture, the Screaming Eagles also already clinched its berth in the OVC tournament. After Saturday's results, USI remained in a tie for fourth place with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and one game back of Eastern Illinois University in third place. SIUE dropped to 5-22 overall and 3-15 in OVC play, as the Cougars look to battle for their berth in the OVC tournament.
 
Southern Indiana started the game on fire, jumping out to a 16-2 lead by the midway point of the opening quarter. The three-point shot was effective early as junior guard Ali Saunders knocked down a pair of threes, senior guard Vanessa Shafford drained a triple, and sophomore guard Triniti Ralston cashed in beyond the arc. The scorching stretch from outside led to a 13-0 run in the middle of the period for USI. The Screaming Eagles ended the first quarter attacking the inside to gain a 24-6 advantage going to the second quarter.
 
The Screaming Eagles continued its strong start into the second quarter with a balanced attack. USI's lead swelled to 36-12 by the halfway point of the second, featuring another three by Ralston and a three-point play from graduate forward Meredith Raley. USI finished the first half on a 14-0 run, which was capped off by a last-second layup from sophomore forward Chloe Gannon. Southern Indiana into halftime ahead 42-12.
 
Three minutes into the second half, Raley scored back-to-back layups to reach double figures in the game and extend USI's lead to 48-14. Ralston joined Raley in double digits with another three-pointer at the 4:37 mark of the third quarter. SIUE found a little momentum in the third, but Southern Indiana's lead grew to 60-25 heading into the fourth quarter.
 
In the early portion of the fourth quarter, freshman guard Lexi Sepulveda dropped a runner in the lane and graduate forward Madi Webb converted a three-point play to extend USI's lead to 66-31. Before USI's five seniors walked off the court to a standing ovation and USI closed out the win, Raley and Shafford each drilled a three-pointer and Webb reached double figures in the scoring column.
 
Southern Indiana finished the game shooting over 45 percent (28-62) overall and 40 percent (8-20) from long distance. USI swished in 75 percent (15-20) of its free-throw attempts. The Eagles also outrebounded SIUE, 43-38, and outscored the Cougars in the paint, 34-6. 11 Screaming Eagles found the scoring column. Raley had a game-high 16 points and 10 rebounds for her eighth career double-double. Shafford dropped 14 points, Webb tallied 11 points, and Ralston totaled 10 points.

For Raley, she moved into USI's top five all time in scoring. Raley moved to fourth in USI history with 1,577 points, passing Kaydie Grooms (2014-18) and Kathy Lauck (1990-94). Raley is 30 points away Anna Hackert (2011-15) for third all time.
 
SIUE was held to 25 percent (14-56) from the floor and under 29 percent (8-28) from three. The Cougars were only 6-14 for under 43 percent at the free-throw line. Ava Gugliuzza was the only Cougar in double figures with 10 points.
 
Following Saturday's big win, Webb, Shafford, Raley, graduate guard Lexie Green, and senior forward Lauren Carie were recognized during USI's Senior Night celebration, receiving another big round of applause for their lasting, historical impact on the USI Women's Basketball program.
 
The Screaming Eagles hit the road next week to conclude the regular season with a stop at the University of Tennessee at Martin on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. and a visit to Tennessee State University next Saturday at 1 p.m. Both games can be seen with a subscription to ESPN+ and heard on The Spin 95.7 FM. Additional coverage can be found on usiscreamingeagles.com.