Raley matches career-high 23 points, USI drops close contest

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball had another Ohio Valley Conference contest come down to the final seconds on Thursday, but Tennessee State University came away with a 59-55 win against USI.
 
Thursday’s game at Screaming Eagles Arena was the sixth OVC game for USI that was determined by single digits. Unfortunately, the scoreboard has been unkind to Southern Indiana in each of those six outings.
 
The game started with a tightly contested first quarter. The score was tied at 10 with 3:35 left in the opening period. Over the course of the next two minutes, Southern Indiana received a solid stretch of play from graduate forward Ashlynn Brown (Perrysburg, Ohio). A layup by Brown put USI ahead, 12-10, and then Brown cashed in on a three-point play off an offensive putback to give USI a 15-10 lead.
 
Brown tallied nine first-quarter points, as USI took a 17-14 advantage into the second period. The Screaming Eagles established an inside presence in the opening quarter with 12 points in the paint and were plus-six on the glass.
 
Both teams’ pressuring defense in the first quarter continued in the second period. Each team also showed zone defense at times. The game remained a close battle.
 
Inside four and a half minutes in the second quarter, USI got two passes inside to senior forward Hannah Haithcock (Washington Courthouse, Ohio), who put both receptions up and in the basket. Her second layup pushed USI ahead, 26-20, with 3:23 remaining until halftime. With under 1:45 left on the first-half clock, junior forward Meredith Raley (Haubstadt, Indiana) converted a layup and then a straightaway triple a couple of possessions later. The three-pointer gave Raley 10 points in the first half, as USI went into the intermission in front, 31-27.
 
Out of halftime, both teams came out with high energy and tried to push the tempo. Southern Indiana went inside repeatedly, and despite the hard effort and hustle plays, the basket became unfriendly to USI. In the middle minutes of the third quarter, each side went scoreless for three-plus minutes. Haithcock snapped USI’s scoreless run with a layup at the four-minute mark, giving USI a 39-33 lead. The Screaming Eagles led 41-37 entering the fourth quarter.
 
Just over two minutes into the fourth period, Tennessee State jumped ahead by one. As the battle went on, Raley caught fire for Southern Indiana. After an early basket in the fourth, Raley splashed down back-to-back threes within a minute to give her 20 points and put USI back in front, 49-47, with 6:37 left. Near the halfway point of the quarter, Raley scored another bucket to give USI a five-point advantage.
 
Tennessee State continued to fight, bringing USI’s edge down to one, 54-43, and 1:40 remaining in the fourth. After a free throw by Raley gave USI a two-point lead, the Tigers tied the game at 55 with a minute left. TSU went on to get the go-ahead score on a three-pointer with nine seconds left, as Southern Indiana’s equalizing attempts from outside did not fall.
 
The Screaming Eagles were led on the evening by Raley, who matched a career high with 23 points. The junior forward was 9-15 from the field and 3-5 from outside. Raley also claimed six rebounds. Brown finished with 12 points after a 3-for-3 effort from the floor and a 6-for-7 night at the foul line. USI was 22-for-60 for 36.7 percent overall and 8-for-11 for 72.7 percent at the stripe with three triples. USI outrebounded TSU 40-28 with 15 offensive rebounds that led to 10 second-chance points. Southern Indiana also had 36 points in the paint compared to 24 for Tennessee State.
 
Graduate guard Erica Haynes-Overton led Tennessee State with 15 points, while two other Tigers players scored in double figures. TSU was 22-for-50 for 44 percent shooting and 8-for-12 at the free-throw line with seven three-pointers.
 
Thursday’s result moved Southern Indiana’s record to 9-13 overall and 3-8 in the OVC. The win gave Tennessee State an 8-13 overall record and a 4-7 mark in conference play, moving ahead of USI in the OVC standings.
 
The Screaming Eagles continue the homestand Saturday against Morehead State at 1 p.m. USI will be celebrating Homecoming and Family Weekend on the USI campus.
 
The matchup can be seen live with a subscription to ESPN+ and heard on 95.7 FM The Spin (http://957thespin.com). Tickets to the games can be purchased online at usi.universitytickets.com.