University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball used dominating second and third-quarter performances to earn a 66-40 victory over host McKendree University in its Great Lakes Valley Conference opener Thursday night.

After trudging through a slow first quarter, the Screaming Eagles erupted for 51 points in the second and third quarters to build a commanding 31-point advantage. USI outscored the Bearcats 24-8 in the second quarter and 27-12 in the third period as it took a 59-28 lead into the final 10 minutes of the contest.

The Eagles (6-1, 1-0 GLVC) pulled away from the Bearcats early in the second quarter as USI used an 11-1 run to break an 8-8 tie. USI used a 7-0 run to expand its advantage to 26-11 later in the period, while a 4-1 run to end the stanza put the Eagles up 32-16 at the break.

McKendree (4-2, 0-1 GLVC), which led 4-0 early in the game, trimmed the Eagles’ lead to 13 early in the second half. The Eagles, however, crushed any hope of a McKendree victory as they used a 15-0 run to increase its lead to 50-22 with just over four minutes to play in the third period.

USI’s lead ballooned to 31 by the end of the third period and as many as 35 in the fourth quarter as the Eagles won their GLVC-opener for the fifth consecutive year.

Senior forward Hannah Wascher (Rantoul, Illinois) led USI with 14 points and 11 rebounds, while junior guard/forward Kaydie Grooms (Marshall, Illinois) chipped in 13 points and five rebounds. Senior forward Tasia Brewer (Terre Haute, Indiana) went 3-of-5 from downtown as she rounded out USI’s double-figure scorers with a career-high 11 points.

USI shot just 38.1 percent (24-63) from the floor, but was 18-36 (.500) from the field during the second and third quarters, combined. The Eagles held the Bearcats to a mere 30.6 percent (15-49) from the field and 14.3 percent (1-7) from downtown.

The Eagles also held a 43-32 edge on the glass while forcing the Bearcats into 25 turnovers. USI turned those miscues into 21 points while holding a 19-10 lead in second-chance points.

USI returns to action Saturday at 1 p.m. when it visits the University of Illinois Springfield for a GLVC bout. The Prairie Stars (3-2, 0-1 GLVC) fell to No. 5 Bellarmine University, 66-63, Thursday evening.

Newspaper Box Score

Southern Indiana vs McKendree

12/01/16 5:30 p.m. at Lebanon, IL

SOUTHERN INDIANA 66, MCKENDREE 40

SOUTHERN INDIANA (6-1, 1-0 GLVC)

Wascher, Hannah 6-10 2-3 14; Grooms, Kaydie 5-7 1-1 13; Brewer, Tasia 4-7 0-0 11; Dahlstrom, Morgan 2-8 4-4 8; Dearing, Kendyl 2-2 0-0 6; Savickaite, Ruta 1-2 2-2 4; Marcum, Tanner 1-8 0-0 3; Eschweiler, Kacy 1-4 0-0 2; Sherwood, Morgan 1-4 0-0 2; Harshbarger, Randa 1-7 0-0 2; Rowan, Mikayla 0-2 1-2 1; McCloughan, Janie 0-0 0-0 0; Davidson, Alex 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 24-63 10-12 66.

MCKENDREE (4-2, 0-1 GLVC)

McGinnis,Shannon 3-5 1-1 7; Florine,Shayli 3-5 0-0 6; Morton,Jordan 2-3 1-2 5; Jensen,Megan 1-3 2-3 4; Pusheck,Emily 2-4 0-0 4; Pusheck,Ellie 1-1 2-2 4; Smith,Abby 1-2 0-0 3; Wash,Andranae 0-8 2-2 2; Heberg,Jordan 1-8 0-0 2; Devoe,Halle 1-2 0-0 2; Hart,Madison 0-3 1-2 1; Wilson,Shauniera 0-1 0-0 0; Ahr,Haley 0-0 0-0 0; Alexander,Amber 0-4 0-2 0. Totals 15-49 9-14 40.Southern Indiana…………..    8   24   27    7  -   66

McKendree…………………    8    8   12   12  -   40

3-point goals—Southern Indiana 8-20 (Brewer, Tasia 3-5; Dearing, Kendyl 2-2; Grooms, Kaydie 2-4; Marcum, Tanner 1-3; Sherwood, Morgan 0-1; Harshbarger, Randa 0-3; Davidson, Alex 0-1; Eschweiler, Kacy 0-1), McKendree 1-7 (Smith,Abby 1-2; Heberg,Jordan 0-3; Alexander,Amber 0-2).

Fouled out—Southern Indiana-None, McKendree-None.

Rebounds—Southern Indiana 43 (Wascher, Hannah 11), McKendree 32 (Alexander,Amber 5).

Assists—Southern Indiana 18 (Marcum, Tanner 7), McKendree 9 (Alexander,Amber 2; Pusheck,Ellie 2).

Total fouls—Southern Indiana 12, McKendree 17.

Technical fouls—Southern Indiana-None, McKendree-None.

Attendance—209

 

ATLANTA – The Indiana University men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams had a great showing on the first night of the 2016 AT&T Winter National Championships.

The Hoosier men posted a pair of wins, touching first in both the 200 medley relay and the 800 free relay.

In the 200 medley relay, the team of Bob Glover, Ian Finnerty, Vini Lanza and Ali Khalafalla won with a time of 1:25.13 – the second-fastest time in school history. The team of Wilson Beckman, Levi Brock, Oliver Patrouch and Sam Lorentz placed third with a time of 1:27.39.

In the men’s 800 freestyle relay, the IU team of Marwan Elkamash, Jackson Miller, Anze Tavcar and Max Irwin won with a time of 6:20.71, the sixth-fastest mark in program history. Right behind them were teammates Josh Romany, Vini Lanza, Adam Destrampe and Wes Duke were second in 6:29.17.

On the women’s side in the 200 medley relay, the team of Marie Chamberlain, Laura Morley, Gia Dalesandro and Ali Rockett came in second with a time of 1:39.59. The team of Brooklyn Snodgrass, Mackenzie Atencio, Christine Jensen and Holly Spears were fourth in 1:40.52.

In the 800 freestyle relay, the team of Dalesandro, Stephanie Marchuk, Delaney Barnard and Spears placed second with a time of 7:12.74. The team of Shelly Drozda, Rachel Matsumura, Cassie Jernberg and Rockett took fourth in a mark of 7:16.27.

The Indiana University men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams will continue at the AT&T USA Swimming Winter Nationals on Thursday, while other members will begin competition at the Miami (OH) Invitational.

Be sure to keep up with all the latest news on the Indiana men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams on social media – Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Women’s 200 Medley Relay

2. Chamberlain, Morley, Dalesandro, Rockett – 1:39.59
3. Snodgrass, Atencio, Jensen, Spears – 1:40.52

Men’s 200 Medley Relay

1. Glover, Finnerty, Lanza, Khalafalla – 1:25.13
2. Beckman, Brock, Patrouch, Lorentz – 1:27.39

Women’s 800 Freestyle Relay

2. Dalesandro, Marchuk, Barnard, Spears – 7:12.74
3. Drozda, Matsumura, Jernberg, Rockett – 7:16.27

Men’s 800 Freestyle Relay

1. Elkamash, Miller, Tavcar, Irwin – 6:20.71
2. Romany, Lanza, Destrampe, Duke – 6:29.17

Three register double figure for Purple Aces

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Three players scored in double figures as the University of Evansville men’s basketball team earned an 83-39 win over Wabash College on Tuesday night at the Ford Center.

Leading the way for the Purple Aces (3-4) was Ryan Taylor.  He hit eight shots on his way to 21 points.  Next up was Willie Wiley as he hit 6 of his 7 attempts on his way to 14 points.  Jaylon Brown recorded 11 points.

“We had just one day of practice after the trip to Nashville and our emphasis was on pushing the ball down the floor,” head coach Marty Simmons said.  “The start of the second half was much better and we were able to do more of what we wanted to do.”

Wabash (2-3) was led by a 13-point effort from Duncan Roy while Evan Frank finished the night with 11.

Wiley scored ten points in the first half as the Purple Aces took a 43-28 lead into the locker room.  After missing the first five shots of the night, UE hit its first as a David Howard bucket put the squad up 7-3 at the 15:05 mark.  That bucket was the first of three makes in four attempts as Evansville went up 13-8.

The lead reached as many as 22 with 3:19 left in the half as another Howard make put the Aces up 39-17.  Wabash cut into the gap, outscoring UE by an 11-4 margin to trail by 15 at the half.  Christian Benzon hit the first triple of his career in the first half en route to five points.  Wiley hit four of his five attempts in the opening 20 minutes.

Evansville regrouped in the locker room and came out looking sharp, scoring the first ten points of the second half.  Ryan Taylor knocked down a pair of triples as UE opened up a 53-28 lead.  The shots kept falling for UE as they led by as many as 44 points, which was the final of 83-39.

Defense was the name of the game for the Aces as they held the Little Giants to just 22.2% shooting for the game and 7.7% (2-26) in the second half.  Evansville finished the game shooting 47.7%.  One major difference for UE was the bench, earning 51 points with all 11 players who saw the floor find their way into the score book.

Two of those off the bench had their top games at UE.  Jaiveon Eaves hit three shots while notching two rebounds and two assists while Solomon Hainna notched five points and six boards.

Boise State comes to the Ford Center to face the Aces on Saturday.  Game time is 1 p.m.