Eagles ride another fast start, hold off Lindenwood for GLVC road win
The Screaming Eagles (15-3, 9-1 GLVC) shot 61.1 percent (11-18) from the field and 80.0 percent (4-5) from the three-point range in the first 12 minutes of the contest as they jumped out to a commanding 31-11 lead.
USI’s press defense continually forced Lindenwood to burn up valuable shot clock time in the backcourt early in the contest as the Eagles forced five turnovers and held the Lions to just 1-of-11 (.091) shooting from the field in the first 12 minutes to build up their big lead.
Haithcock, meanwhile, scored 16 of her game-high 22 points in the first half as USI took a comfortable 41-26 advantage into the break.
Junior guard Addy Blackwell (Bloomington, Indiana) and senior forward Ashlynn Brown (Perrysburg, Ohio) combined for 11 points in a 17-9 USI run in the third period that put the Eagles up 58-35 less than seven minutes into the second half.
The Eagles, who went 9-of-10 from the free-throw line in the third period, held the Lions to just seven field-goal attempts in the quarter as they led 65-44 heading into the final 10 minutes of the contest.
USI shot a blistering 70 percent (7-10) from the field in the fourth quarter and held off a late charge by the Lions to preserve the 13-point win.
In addition to Haithcock, the Eagles got 14 points from Blackwell as well as 12 from Brown, who did all her scoring in the second half. Sophomore forward Meredith Raley (Haubstadt, Indiana) had 12 points and eight rebounds for the Eagles, who outscored the Lions, 36-18, in the paint.
Fifth-year senior guard Emma DeHart (Indianapolis, Indiana) added seven points and a career-high-tying six assists.
Lindenwood (9-9, 6-5 GLVC) was led by senior guards Julia Ruzevich and Devin Fuhring, who finished with 21 and 16 points, respectively. Ruzevich, who was 12-of-16 at the free-throw line, also had 11 rebounds.
USI returns to action Thursday at 5:30 p.m. when it hosts Rockhurst University at Screaming Eagles Arena. The Hawks (10-7, 6-5 GLVC) suffered an 82-68 home loss to the University of Illinois Springfield Monday evening.
Notes: USI shot 50.0 percent (29-58) from the field and were 18-of-21 (.857) from the free-throw line…Lindenwood scored 25 of its 69 points at the charity stripe, going 25-of-32 (.781) on the game…USI out-rebounded Lindenwood, which was second in the GLVC with an +8.8 rebounding margin, 31-26.
