Senior guard Alex Davidson (Salem, Indiana) had a Senior Day to remember Saturday as she finished with a career-high 25 points and six assists to lead University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball to an 80-73 Great Lakes Valley Conference victory over the University of Indianapolis Saturday afternoon at the Physical Activities Center.
Davidson had 12 points in the first half, including nine in the first period, as a 15-2 run helped the Screaming Eagles race out to a 41-29 halftime advantage.
USI (18-8, 11-5 GLVC) shot 55.2 percent (16-29) from the field and 44.4 percent (4-9) from downtown in the first 20 minutes as it established control of the contest.
UIndy (9-17, 3-13 GLVC), however, surged back into the contest in the third quarter, using a 22-10 run to take a brief 52-51 lead late in the period.
Junior guard Ashley Johnson (Louisville, Kentucky), though, scored on a quick layup to give the lead back to USI and sophomore forward Imani Guy (Columbus, Indiana) scored a bucket to end the quarter, giving USI a 55-52 lead heading into the final 10 minutes.
The Eagles continued their momentum into the fourth quarter as Guy scored on a quick layup to extend their advantage to five points. Sophomore guard Emma DeHart (Indianapolis, Indiana) hit a three-pointer with nine minutes to play to put the Eagles up, 60-52, while a basket by senior center Kacy Eschweiler (St. Charles, Missouri) followed by a Guy free throw with seven-and-a-half minutes to play capped off an 12-0 run that gave the Eagles an 11-point lead.
Davidson’s three-pointer with just under five minutes to play followed by a pair of free throws put USI up 70-57, while her three-pointer with one-and-a-half minutes left on the clock essentially ended any chance of a UIndy comeback.
Final Game at the PAC
USI Women’s Basketball not only closed USI’s regular-season home schedule but it was an end to an era as the Eagles played their last-ever game at the PAC. USI will begin playing in the brand new Screaming Eagles Arena in 2019-20 after calling the PAC home for the previous 39 years.
Seniors honored
USI’s seniors came off the court with just under 17 seconds to play to a standing ovation. Davidson, Eschweiler, forward/center Mikayla Rowan(Brazil, Indiana) and guard Milana Matias (Klaipeda, Lithuania) were honored after the game as part of the Senior Day festivities.
Statistical leaders
In addition to Davidson’s game-high 25 points, the Eagles got 16 points and six boards from Guy as well as 16 points and a nine rebounds from DeHart. Eschweiler added 14 points and five rebounds.
Junior guard Laura Thomas had 21 points to lead the Greyhounds, while sophomore guard Taylor Drury chipped in 15 points.
Up next
USI visits the University of Illinois Springfield Thursday at 5:30 p.m. before ending the regular-season next Saturday against McKendree University in Lebanon, Illinois.
