Eagles top the Billikens Sunday, 71-59

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball won its third straight game Sunday afternoon after the Screaming Eagles defeated Saint Louis University, 71-59, at Liberty Arena, home of the Screaming Eagles.

With Sunday’s victory, Southern Indiana improved to 4-1 in 2024-25. Saint Louis moved to 2-2 with the loss.

Prior to Sunday’s opening tip, USI Women’s Basketball unveiled three new banners in the Liberty Arena rafters commemorating their 2023-24 Ohio Valley Conference regular season and tournament championships in addition to their first-ever Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) last year. After the pregame ceremonies, Southern Indiana was ready to battle the reigning WNIT champions in Saint Louis.

Southern Indiana came out with active hands defensively and crashed the offensive glass. Graduate forward Meredith Raley collected USI’s first five points on a three-pointer and a layup. After the two teams exchanged buckets early, Saint Louis led 13-9 going into the first media timeout. The Screaming Eagles’ pestering defense helped USI respond. Before the end of the first quarter, Raley reached 10 points for the game and drained a straightaway three to put the Eagles in front, 19-17, going to the second quarter.

The game was knotted up at 21 following a defensive start to the second period. Then back-to-back triples from junior guard Ali Saunders and senior guard Vanessa Shafford moved Southern Indiana ahead by six at the midway point of the second. The game remained a six-point margin until USI finished the first half on a 6-0 run. Graduate forward Madi Webb drained a buzzer-beating trey to increase the Screaming Eagles’ lead to 12, 42-30, going into halftime.

Saint Louis cut USI’s lead down to five, 44-39, by the 7:45 mark of the third quarter, but another top-of-the-arc three from Raley halted the Billikens’ run. With four minutes left in the third period, sophomore guard Sophia Loden reached double figures and pushed USI back ahead by double digits after cashing in a three-pointer. Raley continued her strong performance with a layup in the last minute of the third, as Southern Indiana led 56-47 heading to the fourth quarter.

The physical, defensive battle continued into the final stanza of regulation. Each team kept exchanging blows as the margin hovered near the 10-point mark in USI’s favor. Out of a timeout with four minutes on the clock, the Billikens hit a three to draw back within eight, 65-57. The Eagles answered again with a jumper from Shafford and an open-court layup by Saunders to go back up by 12. From there, the Eagles maintained their double-digit advantage and held the Billikens scoreless in the final couple of minutes.

Southern Indiana shot for 37.5 percent (27-72) overall and nearly 43 percent (9-21) from distance. USI was 8-16 at the free-throw line. The Screaming Eagles outrebounded Saint Louis by one, 47-46, as USI had 21 offensive boards. USI’s defense made the Billikens cough up 19 turnovers while USI only had 13.

Individually, Raley paced Southern Indiana with 19 points on 7-12 shooting with three triples. Loden finished with 12 points and eight rebounds in a career-best 31 minutes of action. Shafford also posted 12 points, and Saunders totaled 11 points with six caroms, seven assists, and three steals.

Saint Louis shot the ball for 33.3 percent (21-63) and was limited to just above 18 percent (4-22) from three. The Billikens were 13-18 for 72.2 percent at the charity stripe. Graduate forward Peyton Kennedy led Saint Louis with 23 points.

The Screaming Eagles conclude their three-game homestand next Saturday, November 23, at 3 p.m., renewing an old Great Lakes Valley Conference rivalry against Northern Kentucky University. Next Saturday’s game also features USI faculty and staff appreciation.

Tickets for all home games at Liberty Arena can be purchased online at usiscreamingeagles.com or the USI Ticket Office.