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at William Jewell (6-9, 1-3 GLVC): 68
Southern Indiana (10-2, 3-1 GLVC): 65
LIBERTY, Mo.—University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball saw a nine-point third-quarter lead slip away as the Screaming Eagles suffered a 68-65 Great Lakes Valley Conference setback to host William Jewell College Saturday afternoon.
William Jewell (6-9, 1-3 GLVC) trailed 36-27 early in the third quarter after USI junior forward Hannah Wascher (Rantoul, Illinois) scored a layup less than third seconds into the period. The Cardinals, however, used a 12-4 run to trim the Eagles cushion to a single point with four minutes to play in the third quarter.
Junior guard Tanner Marcum (New Albany, Indiana), who led all scorers with 22 points, briefly turned momentum back into the Eagles’ direction when she followed a jumper with a pair of free throws to give USI a 44-39 lead; but the Cardinals responded with a three-pointer and two free throws to tie the game at 44-44 with just under two minutes left in the third period.
USI (10-2, 3-1 GLVC) had a trio of baskets in the final two minutes of the third quarter, but a pair of William Jewell three pointers and a free throw sent the Eagles into the fourth quarter facing a 51-50 deficit.
The Eagles went through a five-minute scoring drought to begin the final frame, allowing the Cardinals to build a 58-50 lead with five minutes to play.
A three-pointer by junior guard Kendyl Dearing (Huntingburg, Indiana) with 4:37 to play ended the Eagles’ scoring drought and cut the Cardinals’ lead to five points. Free throws by Wascher and freshman center Kacy Eschweiler (St. Charles, Missouri) got the Eagles to within two points with four minutes to play in the game.
USI got to within a point on a two occasions during the next two minutes, but each time USI closed the gap, William Jewell answered with a three-pointer by senior guard Kelsey Nickerson.
The Eagles trailed 65-60 with less than 25 seconds to play when Marcum hit a three-pointer to cut the Cardinals’ advantage to two points; and, after senior guard Logan Antenen made 1-of-2 from the free throw line at the other end of the court, the Eagles trimmed William Jewell’s lead to one point with less than 10 seconds to play when sophomore guard/forward Kaydie Grooms (Marshall, Illinois) scored a layup.
After a pair of William Jewell free throws by Maddie Nelson with 4.3 seconds to play put the Cardinals up by three, sophomore guard Randa Harshbarger (Philo, Illinois) saw her desperation shot from half-court sail wide as time ran out.
The Eagles, who led for a majority of the first half and third quarter, went 19-of-32 at the free throw line and shot just 33.9 percent (20-59) from the field. USI also committed 16 turnovers, including 11 in the second half.
In addition to Marcum, who had four assists, the Eagles got 17 points and 14 rebounds from Wascher, while Grooms added 12 points.
USI returns to action Thursday when it hosts No. 19 Quincy University at the Physical Activities Center.
