Screaming Eagles tame Panthers to open homestand
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball opened its final regular-season homestand Thursday night with a convincing 66-46 victory against Eastern Illinois University inside Liberty Arena, home of the Screaming Eagles.
Strong post play and team defense highlighted USI’s path to its win on Thursday, which featured the Screaming Eagles’ defense holding the Panthers to single digits in two quarters of play. With the win, Southern Indiana (19-9, 11-6 OVC) moved up into a tie for fourth place in the Ohio Valley Conference alongside the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Meanwhile, Eastern Illinois (16-10, 13-4 OVC) remained in the third position, only two games ahead of USI and Little Rock.
On Thursday, Southern Indiana jumped out to a quick 8-2 lead 2:30 into the contest, which included a pair of threes from graduate forward Meredith Raley and junior guard Ali Saunders. Eastern Illinois was forced to take an immediate timeout. The Screaming Eagles’ lead grew to 10, 16-6, by the 3:15 mark of the first quarter after a layup by Raley. Saunders nailed her second triple of the game to push USI ahead 20-9 through the opening quarter.
The second period was more evenly contested. After a three-minute dry spell for USI in the first portion of the second, back-to-back baskets by graduate forward Madi Webb increased Southern Indiana’s to 14, 26-12. Later in the quarter, Eastern Illinois closed in a little with two unanswered makes, but a three by sophomore guard Triniti Ralston halted any significant run from mounting. The Panthers scored twice in the 90 seconds of the first half, as USI carried a 32-21 lead into halftime.
The USI advantage remained around 11 in the early going of the second half. Senior guard Vanessa Shafford canned a pair of threes near the seven-minute mark of the third quarter to reach double figures for the game and place the Eagles in front by 14, 42-28. The two sides exchanged buckets down the stretch of the third period. Eastern Illinois cut USI’s lead down to single digits by the end of the third, 51-42.
Southern Indiana controlled the fourth frame to pull away, orchestrating an 11-0 run over the first six and a half minutes of the quarter. Shafford scored five points during the run, while Raley added a couple of layups to also reach double digits in the game. By the end of the scoring run, the Screaming Eagles led by 20, 62-42. The scoring differential stayed at 20 by the final buzzer.
Southern Indiana shot an efficient 47.3 percent (26-55) from the floor and nearly 39 percent (7-18) from beyond the arc. USI went 7-10 at the foul line. The Eagles dominated the glass, 40-25, over the Panthers. Shafford led all scorers with 18 points on 7-11 shooting and 3-6 from three with seven rebounds. Raley tallied 11 points and six boards. Webb also finished in double figures with 10 points.
Eastern Illinois shot for under 37 percent (18-49) overall and was limited to 1-17 for six percent from three-point range. The Panthers were 9-14 for 64.3 percent at the free-throw stripe. Eight Panthers scored in the contest but all were held to single digits.
The Screaming Eagles close out the regular-season home schedule Saturday at 5 p.m. against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Saturday is Senior Night, as USI Women’s Basketball will celebrate its senior class. Guards Lexie Green and Vanessa Shafford will be recognized alongside forwards Madi Webb, Lauren Carie, and Meredith Raley. Additionally, Saturday is Fan Appreciation Night, presented by Ascension. Fans should wear red to red out Liberty Arena, home of the Screaming Eagles, and arrive early for a free t-shirt giveaway to the first 500 fans.
