Eagles drop tightly contested battle against the Hoosiers
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball battled and scrapped every possession Wednesday night against Indiana University at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, falling in a narrow defeat, 67-63.
The Screaming Eagles moved to 7-2 on the season, snapping their six-game win streak. Indiana improved to 6-3 as they begin conference play on December 7.
USI fell behind out of the gate, struggling to convert at the rim. The Hoosiers took the first ten of 12 points, forcing the Eagles into calling an early timeout. Coming out of the timeout, USI settled in and went on a 15-7 run to close out the quarter tied at 17. Graduate forward Madi Webb helped the Eagles bounce back, scoring a team-high six points in the quarter.
The Eagles carried their momentum from the end of the quarter into the second period, outscoring Indiana 25-12 in the frame to extend the lead to 13 heading into halftime. The Eagles’ defense stood up to the challenge by holding the Hoosiers to 31.3 percent from the field and 27 percent from beyond the arc. USI found the open shot consistently down the floor, as eight Eagles scored while totaling eight assists.
Senior leaders Vanessa Shafford, Meredith Raley, and Webb each contributed eight points. Shafford led the Eagles in rebounding at four, one ahead of sophomore guard Triniti Ralston who hounded the Hoosiers with relentless defense.
USI struggled on both ends to start the second half, as Indiana went on a 12-2 run to cause the Eagles to call an early timeout with the Hoosiers pulling within three. Junior guard Ali Saunders, Ralston, and Raley helped stop the bleeding with six points on strong drives to the basket. However, Indiana closed within three points again to end the third quarter.
Indiana continued to seize momentum, taking a 60-55 lead after converting their offensive sets from multiple levels with five minutes remaining in the game. USI refused to quit as sophomore forward Amiyah Buchanan and Saunders drilled jumpers in the paint to cut the lead to one with a minute to play. The Hoosiers responded with a pivotal three to make it a two-possession game and then converting at the charity stripe down the stretch put the game away.
For the game, USI shot 45.5 percent (25-55) with an impressive 61.5 percent (8-13) from three. The largest discrepancy in the game came at the free-throw line as USI made it to the line eight times, sinking five. Indiana shot 26 free throws at a 61.5 percent clip. The Screaming Eagles were outrebounded 38-33, but the Eagles gained four more boards on the defensive end than Indiana. The Hoosiers grabbed 13 offensive rebounds compared to the Eagles’ four. Saunders finished atop the scoring sheet with 14 points for Southern Indiana.
USI returns to Liberty Arena to face familiar foe Oakland City University on Saturday at 1 p.m. Saturday’s game will be Ugly Holiday Sweater Day. Tickets for all home games at Liberty Arena can be purchased online at usiscreamingeagles.com or the USI Ticket Office.
