Second-Half Struggles Earn Eagles Third Straight Loss
EVANSVILLE, Ind.—University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball made just six second-half field goals as it suffered a 60-42 Great Lakes Valley Conference setback to visiting Truman State University Saturday afternoon at the Physical Activities Center.
USI (10-4, 3-3 GLVC) shot just 26.1 percent (6-23) from the field in the second half as Truman State turned a 32-28 halftime lead into the 18-point victory.
After falling behind by five midway through the second quarter, the Screaming Eagles strung together a 6-0 run to take a brief 26-25 advantage.
Truman State (11-6, 5-2 GLVC), however, outscored the Eagles, 7-2, throughout the final two minutes of the opening half as it went into the intermission with the four-point lead.
The Bulldogs carried that momentum into the third period, where they outscored USI, 17-7, to forge a 14-point lead heading into the final quarter. Truman State made just five shots in the third quarter, but four of those baskets were of the three-point variety.
USI struggled to get into any type of rhythm in the third period was it had just 15 possession in the quarter. The Eagles went 3-of-7 from the field, 1-of-4 from the free throw line, and had six turnovers in the third frame.
A three-pointer and a layup by sophomore guard/forward Kaydie Grooms (Marshall, Illinois) early in the fourth quarter briefly pumped some energy into the Eagles, but USI went just 1-of-8 from the field and had four turnovers throughout the final seven minutes of the game as it suffered its third consecutive loss.
Junior forward Hannah Wascher (Rantoul, Illinois) had a game-high 13 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Eagles, while junior guard Tanner Marcum (New Albany, Indiana) finished with 12 points and three steals. Grooms had seven points, all of which came in the fourth quarter, while sophomore guard Randa Harshbarger (Philo, Illinois) had six points and three assists.
Truman State held a decisive advantage in points off the bench as the Bulldogs’ reserves outscored USI’s reserves 22-0. Truman State also went 9-of-20 from three-point range and held a 40-32 rebounding advantage.
Senior center Michalina Tomczak paced the Bulldogs with 10 points and seven rebounds.
USI returns to action Monday at 4:45 p.m. (CST) when it visits No. 17 Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky. The Knights (11-1, 5-1 GLVC) suffered an 82-75 setback to No. 19 Quincy University Saturday in Louisville.
