The University of Southern Indiana women’s basketball team rallied from a three-point fourth quarter deficit to post a 71-65 victory over visiting West Virginia State University Sunday afternoon at the Physical Activities Center.
After leading for much of the game, USI found itself facing in a 59-56 deficit with just over six minutes to play in the contest.
Junior guard Tanner Marcum (New Albany, Indiana) hit a couple free throws and junior forward Hannah Wascher (Rantoul, Indiana) scored on a layup to give USI a brief one-point edge with just under five minutes to play.
West Virginia State (2-4) retook the lead on a layup by junior forward Shealyn Shafer with 4:30 to play, but another four-point USI burst that featured baskets by Marcum and sophomore forward Morgan Dahlstrom (Grayslake, Illinois) put the Screaming Eagles up 64-61 with 3:30 left in the contest.
USI (4-1) stretched its lead to 68-63 as sophomore guard Randa Harshbarger (Philo, Illinois) scored on a give-and-go pass from Dahlstrom prior to a pair of Wascher free throws with 2:30 remaining on the clock.
Dahlstrom also had a big block late in the contest as West Virginia State senior guard Deyahnna Sytles looked to have an easy fast-break layup. Dahlstrom raced down the court to deflect the shot off of Styles and out of bounds, preventing the easy score and giving USI the ball back with a 68-65 lead.
Marcum’s layup with 30 seconds to go put USI up 70-65 and her free throw in the final 10 seconds of the contest sealed the victory for USI.
The Eagles got into foul trouble early in the third quarter as Harshbarger went to the bench with four fouls after picking up two quick whistles early in the period. Junior guard Kendyl Dearing (Huntingburg, Indiana) also went to the bench with four fouls late in the third quarter, putting USI in a precarious position throughout the final 10 minutes of the game.
USI, however, used a strong presence inside the paint to pull out the win. The Eagles outscored the Yellow Jackets, 40-26, in the paint throughout the contest, including 12-8 in the final period.
Wascher led USI with 21 points and eight rebounds, while Marcum chipped in 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting. Dahlstrom added 11 points and a game-high tying nine rebounds, while sophomore guard/forward Kaydie Grooms (Marshall, Illinois) and freshman forward/center Mikayla Rowan(Brazil, Indiana) each had eight points. Both Grooms and Harshbarger finished with four assists.
Freshman guard Laura Szorenyi had 17 points to pace the Yellow Jackets, who were led by former Bellarmine University and Saint Joseph’s College Head Coach David Smith.
USI opens Great Lakes Valley Conference play Thursday at 5:15 p.m. when it hosts McKendree University at the Physical Activities Center.
