The University of Southern Indiana women’s basketball team closed their part of the 2019 Bellarmine Thanksgiving Classic with a wire-to-wire victory over Trevecca Nazarene University, 83-60, Saturday afternoon at Knights Hall.

The Screaming Eagles (4-1) took the lead just 12 seconds into the contest with an elbow-jumper from senior guard Ashley Johnson and never saw a tied score or lead change for the remainder of the 40-minute affair.

Johnson and sophomore forward Ashlynn Brown each posted the game-high of 15 points, combining for a 61 percent shooting clip and 10 rebounds. Brown’s six boards tied junior guard Emma DeHart and senior guard Kiara Moses for the game-high in that category.

The Eagles opened the game on a 9-2 run fueled by seven of DeHart’s 12 points, sparking the USI offense to a 20-7 first-quarter tally. Freshmen forward Tara Robbe and guard Addy Blackwell came off the bench for a combined seven points in the opener.

The Trojans (3-5) found their way back to just a three-point deficit just-after the second-quarter media break, outscoring USI 18-8 over a seven-minute stretch of the second frame. The Eagles bounced back with a 12-4 run capped-off by a Blackwell three-pointer that gave her the team-lead in scoring at the break.

A three-pointer from senior guard/forward Morgan Sherwood halfway through the third quarter marked the final time Trevecca would be within single-digits in the game. The Eagles finally pushed their lead to 20 points just before the fourth-quarter media break on a Brown free throw.

Notes

Blackwell posted a new season-high in her freshman campaign with 12 points Saturday, her second time scoring in double-digits this season.

Johnson’s 15-point effort marks her third-straight double-digit performance, and fourth in five games thus far. Brown’s 15 points came one shy of tying the career-high mark she set in the road loss at Ferris State University last weekend. DeHart has also posted double-digit efforts in four-of-five this season with 12 points on Saturday.

USI out-shot the Trojans from the field (50.8 percent to 34.4 percent), out-scored them in the paint (32-28) and off the bench (31-21), all while leading all but the first 12 seconds of the contest.

Up Next

USI Women’s Basketball opens Great Lakes Valley Conference play with its first true-road game at McKendree University Tuesday.

The Eagles play their final non-conference game of the 2019-20 season with a visit to Ashland University on Sunday, December 22.

Tam finishes career on a high note

 

With the completion of the 2019 Missouri Valley Conference Volleyball Championship, it was announced that University of Evansville senior Rachel Tam earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team.

In Evansville’s match on Thursday, Tam recorded 17 kills and seven digs.  Her 17 kills was the most of any player in the match.

“We are all very happy for Rachel.  She had a great game and kept us in the fight in every set,” UE head coach Fernando Morales said.  “It is a great way to finish her career, she definitely deserves it.”

Tam has etched her way into the UE record books.  She leaves the program with a total of 1,469 kills in her four seasons. That puts her third in its history.