EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball extended its winning streak to a season-best 11 games in dramatic fashion Thursday night at Screaming Eagles Arena, capturing the program’s first-ever Division I victory in a national postseason tournament with a 69-64 win against the University of Illinois Chicago in the first round of the 2024 Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT).
The Ohio Valley Conference champion Screaming Eagles (25-6) went back and forth against the Missouri Valley Conference’s UIC Flames (18-16) in front of over 1,700 fans in attendance. Each side led by as many as nine within the game, but the contest remained a battle inside the final minutes. With the historical first WNIT win for USI on Thursday, Southern Indiana advanced to the second round and was rewarded with the opportunity to host the University of Wisconsin (13-16) at Screaming Eagles Arena on Monday at 7 p.m. CT.
Thursday’s game started at a high tempo early. UIC knocked down two three-pointers within the first two and a half minutes despite shooting below 30 percent from long range this season. However, senior forward Madi Webb (Bedford, Indiana) provided the answer for Southern Indiana by scoring the Screaming Eagles’ first eight points. USI led by five, 13-8, near the midway point of the opening quarter. At the three-minute mark freshman guard Triniti Ralston (Louisville, Kentucky) converted a three-point play to put USI up 16-10. Southern Indiana carried an 18-14 lead to the second period.
Ralston began the second quarter for Southern Indiana with another three-point play. A few minutes later, Webb continued her hot start. The senior crossed into double figures and helped build USI’s lead up to nine, 27-18, with nearly seven minutes left in the first half. UIC ended the first half on a 12-4 run to cut Southern Indiana’s advantage down to one at halftime, 31-30.
Out of the break, the Flames went on another run to take the lead, which eventually reached a nine-point advantage, 42-33, before Ralston cashed in on another three-point play for Southern Indiana. The conversion put Ralston into double-digit scoring for the game. Ralston helped USI chip away, surpassing her career-high 14 points that she set in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament championship game. With Screaming Eagles Arena buzzing after strong defensive stops, USI jumped back in front, 46-45, with three minutes left in the third quarter. A last-second layup by Webb gave USI a 50-46 lead heading to the fourth frame.
The intensity and physicality of the contest increased even more so in the fourth period. Senior forward Meredith Raley (Haubstadt, Indiana) made a tough layup at the 6:26 mark to maintain USI’s four-point lead, giving Raley 10 points in the game. At the halfway point of the fourth, Ralston continued to put her head down and get to the hoop, reaching the 20-point threshold for the first time in a USI uniform. Later in the quarter, UIC grabbed a 59-58 lead with just over two minutes left in the fourth. Ralston had the response once again for the Screaming Eagles. The guard scored a layup and a triple to generate the final momentum push needed to put USI in front for good, as Southern Indiana iced the game at the foul line.
Southern Indiana shot nearly 42 percent (23-55) in the game, hitting a pair of treys and also going 21-24 for 87.5 percent at the free-throw stripe. USI forced UIC into 23 turnovers, outscored the Flames 22-10 in transition, and was plus-eight in the paint. Ralston posted a game-high and career-high 25 points on 8-12 shooting with two threes and a 7-7 night at the charity stripe. The freshman also had four steals. Webb finished with 14 points, while Raley tallied 12 points.
UIC was held to just under 34 percent from the floor (20-59) with five three-pointers. The Flames were 19-25 for 76 percent at the foul line. UIC had 43 rebounds compared to USI’s 33. Junior forward Makiya Williams led three UIC players in double figures with 17 points.
Monday’s game against Wisconsin can be seen live with a subscription to ESPN+. 95.7 FM The Spin and 97.7 FM WREF will have radio coverage.
Detailed ticket information will be released soon. Inquiries can be directed to the USI Ticket Office at 812-465-1190. USI students receive free admission.
