HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball and Northern Kentucky University added another classic battle between the two programs on Sunday afternoon, but the Screaming Eagles fell on the road in overtime against the Norse, 77-71.
The two former Great Lakes Valley Conference rivals were meeting for only the second time as Division I foes on Sunday, as Northern Kentucky (3-6) made the trip to USI (4-2) last season. On Sunday, USI Women’s Basketball made its first trip to Northern Kentucky since 2012, which was the final year with both schools in the GLVC before NKU made its jump to the D-I level.
In Sunday’s tilt, USI shot for 40 percent (28-70) from the floor and nearly 36 percent (5-14) from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, Northern Kentucky shot just below 36 percent (24-67) overall and just over 38 percent (13-34) from three-point range. The Screaming Eagles outrebounded the Norse, 47-41, and outscored NKU in the paint, 40-18.
Four Screaming Eagles scored in double figures, with two Eagles notching double-doubles. Junior forward Chloe Gannon led USI with a career-high 21 points and matched a career-best 12 rebounds for her first double-double of the season and second in her career. Junior guard Sophia Loden logged her second consecutive double-double and third of the season with 15 points and a career-high 13 rebounds. Junior forward Amiyah Buchanan nearly had a double-double with a season-best 13 points and eight boards. Senior guard Ali Saunders tallied 12 points, dished out seven assists, and had five steals.
Sunday’s game went back and forth despite USI jumping out to a quick 7-0 lead and holding the Norse scoreless for nearly the first four minutes of the contest. While Northern Kentucky closed the early deficit, Loden drained a pair of threes in the early minutes to give USI a 12-7 lead halfway into the first quarter. The Norse answered to grab a 19-14 lead, but Loden connected twice inside of two minutes left in the first to bring the Eagles right back. USI led the early shootout, 22-21, through the opening period.
The game turned into a defensive battle in the second quarter with neither side able to score until the seven-minute mark. A couple of makes by Saunders and junior forward Maddy Fay helped push USI’s lead to five. However, Northern Kentucky stayed within arm’s reach. Despite the Screaming Eagles maintaining a five-point advantage, 32-27, with three minutes to go in the first half, USI went scoreless for the rest of the half. Northern Kentucky was limited to only three points inside the final three minutes of the first half, as USI led 32-30 at the break.
USI relied on its post play in Buchanan and Gannon to start the second half, but the Norse stayed neck-and-neck with the Eagles with their three-point shooting. Northern Kentucky took a 43-39 advantage just past the midway point of the third quarter. A few more inside looks by the Eagles, including a couple more by Buchanan and Gannon, helped propel USI back in front, 48-47, at the end of the third frame.
The two sides matched made shots in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter before Northern Kentucky surged to a five-point lead, 58-53, with five minutes to go in the period. A three-point play by Gannon brought it back to a two-point contest. Loden drilled two jumpers with under 4:30 remaining, but the Norse continued to answer. With under two minutes left, Saunders netted a triple and Gannon scored a basket inside to tie the game up at 66, as the battle went into overtime.
In the extra session, NKU claimed the lead nearly three minutes into overtime, leading by as many as two, 71-69. USI earned its way to the free-throw line to knot the game back up, 71-71, with under a minute remaining. However, Northern Kentucky scored on a layup and converted its ensuing free throws to close out the game.
The Screaming Eagles will continue their road set next Saturday at 3 p.m. CT against East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee. Next Saturday’s game can be seen with a subscription to ESPN+ and heard on The Spin 95.7 FM.
