USI Women’s Basketball Wins In OVC Debut

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball added another chapter to a historic first season as an NCAA Division I program Thursday, debuting in the Ohio Valley Conference with a 68-54 win against Southeast Missouri State University.

The win moved USI’s record to 7-5 overall this season and 1-0 to begin conference play. With the loss, SEMO dropped to 5-7 on the season and 0-1 in the OVC.

Inside the first minute of the contest, sophomore guard Vanessa Shafford (Linton, Indiana) got USI on the scoreboard first with a triple from the wing against SEMO’s 1-3-1 defense, tallying USI’s first points in OVC play. A minute later, junior forward Meredith Raley (Haubstadt, Indiana) capitalized on a three-point play to give USI an early 5-0 lead.

Southern Indiana was able to jump out to a 13-2 lead midway through the first quarter, as Southeast Missouri switched around zone defenses. The offensive end cooled off a little bit in the back half of the first period, as USI carried a 15-8 lead to the second quarter.

Shafford continued to feel it from outside the arc in the second quarter, connecting on another pair of triples. At the 6:29 mark in the second, Shafford used a ball fake to create an opening to knock down her fourth three of the first half and push USI’s lead to a dozen, 24-12. With 3:32 remaining until halftime, Raley was on the receiving end of an assist from Shafford, as Raley beat the shot clock with a layup to give a 26-15 advantage.

Following the layup by Raley, Southeast Missouri went on a 9-0 run over the next two minutes, cutting the score down to 26-24 USI. With 30 seconds left until the break, Screaming Eagles junior guard Lexie Green (Indianapolis, Indiana) canned a corner three-pointer to snap the Redhawks’ scoring run to give USI a 29-24 lead. Southern Indiana went into the intermission ahead 30-24.

At halftime, Shafford led USI with 14 points while Raley totaled eight first-half points for the Screaming Eagles.

Inside the first minute to begin the third quarter, SEMO cut down USI’s lead to two, 30-28. Once again, USI responded with a three-pointer from senior guard Tori Handley (Jeffersonville, Indiana). The next few minutes were competitive, going back and forth. With 6:12 left in the third, Handley splashed home another triple to extend USI’s lead back to nine, 42-33.

The Screaming Eagles’ advantage remained at nine, 53-44, with 1:39 remaining in the third quarter after successful trips to the free-throw line for USI senior forward Hannah Haithcock (Washington Courthouse, Ohio). Haithcock joined Raley and Shafford in double figures by the end of the third. USI took a 53-47 lead to the fourth quarter.

Graduate forward Ashlynn Brown (Perrysburg, Ohio) made two layups within the first couple of minutes of the fourth quarter to push USI ahead 57-47. The Redhawks kept battling, bringing the deficit down to single digits with under five minutes remaining.

The Screaming Eagles continued to keep the Redhawks at bay, holding a 62-52 lead with 2:11 left. USI put the finishing touches on the win with points late by Shafford, Brown, and Raley.

For the game, USI shot for 40 percent (22-55) from the field with eight three-pointers. USI outrebounded SEMO 39-36 and had 16 assists to only six assists for SEMO. USI recorded 27 points off turnovers and 24 points in the paint.

Shafford led all scorers with 16 points in the game, hitting four of her six total makes from outside. She also pulled down six rebounds. Haithcock posted 15 points and seven rebounds. The reigning OVC co-Player of the Week is two points away from 1,000 career points. Raley posted 13 points and eight rebounds for USI.

The Redhawks were 16-for-49 from the floor for 32.7 percent in the game. Southeast Missouri made three triples and went 19-for-26 at the charity stripe. Freshman guard Alecia Doyle led the Redhawks with 14 points while sophomore guard Jaliyah Green had 12 points.

The opening week of the OVC season will continue Saturday for the Screaming Eagles, as USI will travel to Eastern Illinois University for a 1 p.m. contest. The game can be seen live with a subscription to ESPN+ and heard on 95.7 FM Th Spin (http://957thespin.com).