CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – University of Southern Indiana Women's Basketball secured its spot in the 2026 Ohio Valley Conference Basketball Championship Tournament on Saturday afternoon after the Screaming Eagles grabbed a 90-57, wire-to-wire road victory at Southeast Missouri State University.
 
Following Thursday's road setback at the University of Tennessee at Martin, USI Women's Basketball (16-7, 10-4 OVC) responded convincingly on Saturday at Southeast Missouri (8-15, 4-10 OVC) to close out the road trip. In clinching a postseason berth on Saturday, USI will be making a third consecutive appearance in the OVC Tournament in March.
 
Additionally, the Screaming Eagles moved back up into a tie for second place in the Ohio Valley Conference standings and a game back of first following Saturday's road triumph and other results around the OVC.
 
On Saturday, USI shot a season-best 53 percent (32-60) overall and a season-best 58 percent (11-19) from three-point range. The 11 made threes are a season high for the Eagles. USI went 15-20 for 75 percent at the free-throw stripe. USI outrebounded Southeast Missouri, 37-22, and scored 28 points off 25 SEMO turnovers.
 
11 Screaming Eagles scored on Saturday, with three Eagles tallying double digits. Senior guard Ali Saunders dropped a team-high 19 points on 6-11 shooting with three treys and dished out five assists. Junior forward Chloe Gannon recorded 16 points with six boards. Fellow junior forward Amiyah Buchanan posted her second double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds against her former program.
 
Southeast Missouri finished the game shooting 40 percent (21-53) from the floor, under 23 percent (7-31) from beyond the arc, and 57 percent (8-14) from the foul line. Two Redhawks scored in double figures.
 
Following a 4-4 start to the game, USI broke open a double-digit lead with an 11-0 run in the middle of the first quarter. The inside presence of Gannon and Buchanan got the Screaming Eagles rolling before junior guard Shannon Blacher knocked down a corner three. The Eagles' aggressive attack and stifling defense early led to a 25-9 lead for USI through the first 10 minutes.
 
The Screaming Eagles increased their lead to over 20 in the first minute of the second quarter. During the middle of the second, active defenses created problems for both teams, leading to a cold stretch. After four-plus minutes scoreless, Buchanan got USI back on track to snap the drought. In the final minute of the first half, a bucket by Buchanan plus a last-second three by Saunders extended USI's lead to 42-16 going into the half.
 
USI started the second half with six straight points to push its lead over 30. Gannon had four of the first six second-half points for the Eagles. The two teams had a back-and-forth stretch in the middle of the third period, as USI led 51-21 at the midway point of the third. Following a scoreless two minutes late in the frame, Buchanan knocked down a jumper to build on a strong afternoon. The Screaming Eagles carried a 58-31 advantage to the fourth quarter.
 
However, Southeast Missouri began the fourth quarter on fire, scoring eight unanswered points to cut the difference down to 19 before Saunders ended the run with a three-pointer to get USI on the board in the fourth. At the 4:40 mark of the fourth quarter, redshirt sophomore guard Kylee Dennis swished in a three to cap off an 11-0 run for the Screaming Eagles to push the lead back up to above 30, as USI went on to seal the big road win.
 
The Screaming Eagles will return home to Liberty Arena on Thursday to begin the final regular-season home set when USI hosts Tennessee State University. Tipoff on Thursday is slated for 5 p.m. and can be seen with a subscription to ESPN+ and heard on The Spin 95.7 FM and WREF 97.7 FM.
 
Thursday's game is Ascension Heart Health Night, with Ascension personnel taking free blood pressure readings and handing out informational materials in the Arena lobby. Thursday is also the USI Women's Basketball Play4Kay game.
 
Tickets for all home games at Liberty Arena can be purchased online at usiscreamingeagles.com or the USI Ticket Office.