EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball welcomed the first-ever Power-Five conference opponent to visit Screaming Eagles Arena on Sunday, as the Screaming Eagles took the University of Cincinnati down to the final buzzer in a narrow 58-56 loss.
Cincinnati, who joined the Big 12 Conference earlier this year, made the return trip to USI after the high-major foe hosted the Screaming Eagles in Cincinnati, Ohio last season. Whereas last year’s meeting was more lopsided on the scoreline toward Cincinnati, Sunday’s matchup went differently as Southern Indiana illustrated its growth by taking the Bearcats down to the wire.
On Sunday, Cincinnati jumped out to a fast start, claiming an early 9-0 lead. USI got on the scoreboard three minutes into the contest on a mid-range jumper from junior guard Vanessa Shafford (Linton, Indiana). After the midway point of the opening quarter, Southern Indiana’s defense stepped up to slow down the Bearcats. Graduate guard Tori Handley (Jeffersonville, Indiana) forced a 10-second violation with backcourt defensive pressure. The Bearcats went on to lead 19-8 after one.
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Southern Indiana began the second quarter with a steal and a layup by senior forward Madi Webb (Bedford, Indiana) to cut the deficit down to nine. At the 6:15 mark of the second, freshman forward Chloe Gannon (Manchester, Tennessee) cut past the Bearcats’ defense for a wide-open transition layup, keeping USI within nine, 23-14. As the period carried on, the Screaming Eagles’ defense kept Cincinnati within reach before senior guard Lexie Green (Indianapolis, Indiana) provided an offensive boost off the bench. Green scored five straight points and brought USI within seven, 27-20, with less than three minutes remaining until halftime. Cincinnati ended the first half on a 7-2 run to take a 34-22 halftime advantage.
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After an initial basket by Cincinnati to start the second half, Southern Indiana went on an 11-0 run that lasted over five minutes. The Screaming Eagles’ offensive spurt was sparked by the outside shooting of Shafford, who swished in three triples. USI’s defense also did its part by contesting shots and clearing the glass during the stretch. The big run pulled Southern Indiana within one possession, 36-33, with under four minutes left in the third quarter. The Eagles continued to match the Bearcats late in the third, as Gannon tallied three big layups under the basket for USI. The Screaming Eagles made it a one-point game, 44-43, heading to the fourth period.
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The contest continued as a one-possession game into the middle of the fourth quarter. At the 6:05 mark, redshirt senior guard Addy Blackwell (Bloomington, Indiana) drained a straightaway three-pointer to knot the game up at 50. Saunders then stole the ball from Cincinnati in the next possession and laid the ball up and in to put the Eagles in front, 52-50, with just over five minutes remaining. Cincinnati regained the lead and led by as many as five with over two minutes left on the clock, but USI did not go quietly. With one minute left, Webb cashed in her first three of the season and third of her career to get the Eagles back within two, 58-56. In the final 15 seconds, Gannon stole the ball on a sideline inbounds play by the Bearcats to give Southern Indiana a final look, but the last-second shot bounced off the rim to end the game.
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On the afternoon, Shafford led USI with 15 points and eight rebounds, recording 10 or more points for the seventh consecutive outing. Gannon finished with a new career high of 13 points on six makes from the field with five rebounds and three steals. Southern Indiana shot 35 percent (21-60) as a team, hit six three-pointers, and went 8-of-10 at the foul line. The Eagles had 26 bench points, 12 steals, and a season-low 10 turnovers.
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For Cincinnati, senior forward Jillian Hayes was the only Bearcat in double figures with 16 points, and she finished with 16 rebounds toward a double-double. Cincinnati was held to 32.2 percent (19-59) from the floor with only three makes from long range. The Bearcats were 70.8 percent (17-24) at the charity stripe, won the rebounding battle 52-34, and were forced into 14 turnovers.
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The narrow loss moved Southern Indiana to 4-5 on the year, while Cincinnati improved to 7-3 after their fifth consecutive victory.
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Next, USI will conclude the homestand and out-of-conference slate Friday at 1 p.m. against Brescia University (KY) from Screaming Eagles Arena.
