EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women's Basketball went back and forth against Lindenwood University on Thursday night at Liberty Arena, but the Screaming Eagles were edged out, 69-67, by the Lions in a contest that went until the final buzzer.
 
USI Women's Basketball (14-6, 8-3 OVC) was led on Thursday night by senior guard Ali Saunders, who turned in her second-best career total with 30 points on 8-19 shooting with five three-pointers. Saunders played all 40 minutes and dished out five assists. Junior forward Chloe Gannon posted her fifth straight game in double figures with 17 points while also grabbing six rebounds. Junior forward Amiyah Buchanan had eight points while hauling in a team-high 11 rebounds for the second game in a row.
 
As a team, USI shot for 44 percent (22-50) overall with six three-pointers and went for nearly 74 percent (17-23) at the free-throw line. The Screaming Eagles were plus-five on the glass, 38-33.
 
Lindenwood (16-6, 8-3 OVC) had three players score 15 or more in the contest. The Lions shot the ball for just over 39 percent (24-61) from the floor and almost 42 percent from three-point range (13-31). Lindenwood went 8-13 for 61.5 percent at the foul stripe.
 
USI came out of the gates with a 5-0 advantage, thanks to a three-pointer by junior guard Shannon Blacher and a layup by Gannon. Then a stretch of three consecutive made triples by Lindenwood helped the Lions take a 9-8 lead through the halfway point of the opening quarter. Lindenwood continued its hot shooting from beyond the arc, totaling five three-point field goals in the first quarter to take an 18-13 lead through the first 10 minutes of action.
 
The three-point shootout continued into the second quarter. About three and a half minutes into the second, Saunders drained a trey to bring USI within two, 21-19, but Lindenwood answered with a three of its own. After the Lions connected on another three to grab a 29-21 lead with 4:33 left in the first half, Saunders converted at the foul line, and Buchanan scored in the post to make it a four-point game by the two-minute mark. Lindenwood knocked down its ninth first-half three with 30 seconds left in the first half, but Saunders equalized with a three of her own right before the halftime horn to keep the Eagles within three, 34-31, at the intermission. Saunders tallied 17 first-half points for the Screaming Eagles.
 
The Lions had a quick start to the second half and claimed a 39-31 lead a minute into the third quarter. A couple of minutes later, back-to-back inside looks from Gannon cut the deficit in half, 43-39. Saunders continued her strong outing and reached the 20-point threshold with a basket to tie the game at 43 with 3:39 remaining in the third period. After Lindenwood went back ahead by five later in the quarter, a three-point play by junior guard Sophia Loden in the final 30 seconds of the third period brought USI within two, 48-46, going to the fourth frame.
 
Lindenwood built another five-point lead early in the fourth quarter, but Gannon scored twice to keep USI within one possession. Later in the fourth, Gannon converted down low to give the Screaming Eagles a 56-55 lead just past the six-minute mark. The two sides exchanged baskets before a Saunders triple pushed USI ahead, 61-58, with four minutes to play. Once again, the two teams exchanged blows before a three-pointer by Lindenwood with a minute left propelled the Lions back ahead by one, 65-64. Despite a last effort by the Screaming Eagles, Lindenwood held on at the final buzzer.
 
Following Thursday's results around the Ohio Valley Conference, USI is tied for second place in the conference standings alongside Lindenwood and Morehead State University with an 8-3 conference record, as Western Illinois University moved into sole possession of first place with a 9-2 mark in OVC play.
 
The Screaming Eagles look to snap a two-game skid and conclude the homestand at Liberty Arena on Saturday at 5 p.m. against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The game can be seen with a subscription to ESPN+ and heard on The Spin 95.7 FM and WREF 97.7 FM.
 
Saturday's slate, presented by Old National Bank, is filled with Homecoming festivities and a Penn Station East Coast Subs free fry coupon giveaway to the first 500 fans. As part of Homecoming, USI Women's Basketball will be welcoming back several alumni and USI Hall of Famers in attendance to help celebrate 50 years of USI Women's Basketball.
 
Tickets for all home games at Liberty Arena can be purchased online at usiscreamingeagles.com or the USI Ticket Office.