EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball returned home to Liberty Arena Thursday night with a dominant bounce-back victory, downing Southeast Missouri State University by a final score of 77-46.
After a tough road loss last Saturday, USI Women’s Basketball (10-4, 4-1 OVC) established itself on both ends of the court on Thursday night, turning strong defense into offense and cashing in at the free-throw line. USI shot 35.6 percent (21-59) overall and over 36 percent (7-19) from beyond the arc. The Screaming Eagles converted at the foul line frequently, going 28-35 for 80 percent. USI also took control on the glass, winning the rebounding battle 45-26. 21 offensive boards led to 15 second-chance points. Defensively, USI forced 30 turnovers and recorded 17 steals, leading to 39 USI points off turnovers and 20 fast-break points.
Senior guard Ali Saunders led all scorers with 27 points on 6-10 shooting overall, 5-8 from three, and 10-11 at the charity stripe. The outing was Saunders’ second straight 20-point game and fourth in the last seven games. Saunders has scored in double figures in seven consecutive games.
Additionally, during Thursday’s game, Saunders established a new program record for most consecutive free throws made by setting a new mark of 41. The previous record has been held by Kathy Lauck since the 1993-94 season.
Other notable performances from Thursday’s triumph included junior guard Sophia Loden notching her sixth double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds, and junior forward Chloe Gannon also scored double digits with 10 points.
Southeast Missouri (5-9, 1-4 OVC) shot just under 35 percent (16-46) from the floor, under 27 percent from three (7-26), and below 64 percent (7-11) at the free-throw line.
The Screaming Eagles came out of the gates with a fast start, taking a quick 10-1 lead through the first four and a half minutes. Saunders was an early catalyst, tallying 14 first-quarter points. Meanwhile, the Eagles’ defense stifled the Redhawks into nine turnovers in the opening period, which USI converted into 18 points. USI led 24-10 at the end of the first quarter.
Saunders picked up where she left off from the first quarter by opening the second period with a three pointer. However, USI went the next three minutes without a field goal until freshman forward Channah Gannon scored to give the Eagles a 20-point advantage, 31-11, as USI’s defense continued to lock down the Southeast Missouri. The Eagles went on an 11-0 run in the latter portion of the second quarter, increasing their lead to 40-11 with three minutes left in the first half. After some exchanged baskets, USI went into the halftime break ahead 46-19. Saunders dropped 21 points in the first half, while USI capitalized with 25 points off turnovers defensively and 11 second-chance points on the offensive glass.
The two teams came out of halftime going back and forth. However, the contest turned into a low-scoring defensive battle. With USI up 54-26 and under five minutes remaining in the third quarter, Loden scored on offensive putback to register her sixth double-double of the season. SEMO scored four points in the final minute of the third, as USI led 58-32 at the end of the third period.
After a slow offensive start to the fourth quarter, Saunders tacked on to her scoring performance with a three-pointer at the 7:30 mark, extending the Eagles’ advantage to 30, 62-32. About a minute later, Chloe Gannon became the third Screaming Eagle in double figures with a hook shot in the paint. After a little bit of a dry spell from the floor in the middle of the fourth quarter, freshman guard Lily Graves drained back-to-back triples off the bench to put the final exclamation marks on USI’s big win.
Through Thursday’s action around the Ohio Valley Conference, USI sits in a three-way tie for first alongside Western Illinois University and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a 4-1 conference record.
The Screaming Eagles turn back around on Saturday with an Ohio Valley Conference matchup against the University of Tennessee at Martin inside Liberty Arena. The game starts at 5 p.m.
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