Eagles’ season ends against Bulls in WNIT Super 16 battle

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball had its 2024-25 season come to an end Thursday night in the Super Sixteen of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) at Liberty Arena, home of the Screaming Eagles, falling 76-64 against the University at Buffalo.

After reaching the second round of the WNIT in 2023-24, Southern Indiana (23-13, 12-8 OVC) was making its first-ever appearance in the Super Sixteen. Following a first-round bye and a 60-51 win in the second round of this year’s tournament against Campbell University, the Screaming Eagles welcomed Buffalo (27-7, 13-5 MAC) to Liberty Arena Thursday night in front of 2,000-plus fans.

Buffalo jumped out to a 9-2 lead three minutes into the contest, forcing USI to take an early timeout. Out of the huddle, sophomore forward Chloe Gannon came off the bench and scored back-to-back baskets. Gannon scored again a couple of minutes later to keep USI within five, 13-8, at the 4:46 mark of the first quarter. After Buffalo went ahead by nine later in the first, a three-pointer by junior guard Ali Saunders and a transition bucket by graduate forward Madi Webb sparked the crowd and got USI within two, 17-15. The Bulls led 20-17 at the end of the opening period.

The Bulls started the second quarter taking control of the momentum, scoring 12 unanswered points in the first four minutes and grabbing a 32-17 lead. Gannon continued her strong start to the game, reaching double figures in the middle of the second. Late in the first half, senior guard Vanessa Shafford drained a pair of jumpers, but Buffalo increased its lead to 16, 41-25, going into halftime.

Early in the second half, Webb knocked down a pair of shots to bring USI within 12, 43-31. Following nearly a three-minute scoreless drought in the middle of the third quarter, Southern Indiana continued to chip away with a three-pointer by sophomore guard Triniti Ralston and a layup by Gannon to cut the deficit down to single digits, 45-36, by the 4:21 mark. Buffalo was able to add back onto its lead to carry a 56-42 advantage heading to the fourth quarter.

Graduate forward Meredith Raley sparked USI in the first minutes of the fourth quarter with a three-point play. As the Screaming Eagles kept trying to bring the deficit back down to single digits, Buffalo seemingly had an answer to keep the lead above 10. A layup by Webb with under five minutes to go brought USI within single digits, 61-52, but the Bulls answered with a three. Southern Indiana responded back with a triple from Ralston to make the score 64-55 Buffalo with under three minutes left. However, that would be as close as USI could get it down the stretch.

Southern Indiana could not get the ball to drop through the net, shooting nearly 35 percent overall (22-63) and 20 percent (6-30) from beyond the arc. USI was effective at the foul line once again converting at nearly 88 percent (14-16). The Screaming Eagles outrebounded the Bulls 41-34. Ralston led the Eagles in scoring with 15 points. Gannon finished with 14 points, while Raley tallied 10.

Buffalo shot the ball for over 46 percent (27-58) from the floor and 32 percent (8-25) from three-point range. The Bulls were 14-22 for just over 63 percent at the charity stripe. The Bulls had four players in double figures, led by graduate guard Challia Watson’s 16 points.

The 2024-25 campaign and USI Women’s Basketball’s third year in Division I came to a close after seeing the program accomplish more firsts, including its first-ever appearance in the Super Sixteen of the WNIT. USI also reached at least the semifinal round of the Ohio Valley Conference tournament for the second year in a row in its second consecutive berth into the conference postseason tournament.

Thursday also spelled the end of the USI careers for Southern Indiana’s five seniors, who helped lead the program through its transition to Division I and reach new heights with OVC championship titles in 2023-24 and two WNIT berths. Within the USI record books, Raley and Shafford conclude their careers among the best in USI history. Raley, who set a USI record with 140 games played, registered 1,701 points for third on the all-time scoring list and 687 boards for seventh on the all-time rebounding list. Raley also finished top five in USI history in field goals made (608) and free throws made (380). Shafford, who set a USI record with 232 three-pointers made, totaled 1,429 points for sixth on the career scoring list and 779 rebounds for fifth all time. Shafford is also fourth in program history with 124 games played and sixth with 528 field goals made.

Now the program will turn its attention to getting set for the 2025-26 season and taking another step forward in its Division-I era.