USI drops road contest at Tennessee Tech
Shafford inches closer to program’s three-point record
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball dropped its first Ohio Valley Conference game of the season Thursday evening, 83-79, on the road against Tennessee Tech University.
Thursday’s setback moved Southern Indiana to 11-4 overall and 3-1 within the OVC. The loss snapped a 13-game winning streak against OVC competition and 11 straight regular-season OVC wins dating back to last season. Tennessee Tech improved to 8-4 this season and 2-1 in conference play.
The Screaming Eagles tipped off the game in front 8-3 two minutes into the game after a pair of three-pointers from sophomore guard Triniti Ralston. Later in the first quarter, Tennessee Tech went on an 11-0 run that pushed the Golden Eagles ahead 17-10. Sophomore guard Sophia Loden ended the drought before another couple of conversions by Ralston with under three left in the opening frame. Tennessee Tech went on to lead 23-19 heading to the second period. Ralston tallied 11 first-quarter points.
After a defensive start to the second quarter, Tennessee Tech went on another big run with three consecutive triples to extend the Golden Eagles’ lead to 11, 34-23. Senior guard Vanessa Shafford strung together three jump shots with another three by Ralston to help pull USI back to even at 34 with just over two minutes remaining in the first half. The game remained tied at 38 going into halftime.
The two sides exchanged baskets in the early minutes of the second half with Shafford continuing to knock down shots to keep USI right with the Golden Eagles. Inside the final four minutes of the third quarter, Tennessee Tech drained three treys on three occasions to go up by seven. Graduate forward Meredith Raley scored four of USI’s final six points of the third quarter to help trim the Golden Eagles’ advantage down to three, 57-54, entering the fourth quarter.
Raley delivered another key make early in the fourth stanza to knot the game up at 58. The Golden Eagles answered with a small run to climb to a 66-60 lead with a little over six minutes remaining. With Tennessee Tech up by eight with four and a half minutes on the clock, Shafford drilled another big three followed by a fast-break layup by junior guard Ali Saunders that made it a one-possession contest once again, 72-69, in favor of the Golden Eagles. Southern Indiana stayed competitive driving to the basket and forcing contact. Saunders later tied the game at 74 from the foul line with just under two minutes left. However, Tennessee Tech responded with a few key plays down the stretch to finish off its home win despite a couple of late-effort makes from Ralston and Shafford.
Despite some offensive frustrations during the game, Southern Indiana was efficient from the floor by shooting over 51 percent (30-58). USI shot the ball for over 47 percent (9-19) from three but only connected at a 52.6 clip (10-19) at the free-throw line. Ralston matched her career best with a game-high 25 points on 9-16 shooting overall and 4-4 from outside. Shafford posted her second double-double of the season with 23 points and 12 rebounds. Raley added 11 points.
With five makes from three-point range on Thursday, Shafford inched closer to USI’s all-time record for three-point field goals made. Shafford finished the outing with 190 made threes in her career, only four shy of the program record set by Stephanie Carpenter (2010-14).
For Tennessee Tech, the Golden Eagles were 29-65 for a little over 44 percent shooting, including a rate of over 44 percent (12-27) from distance. Tennessee Tech was 13-21 for nearly 62 percent at the charity stripe. Tennessee Tech was plus-three on the boards, 36-33. Graduate guard Keeley Carter and junior guard Reghan Grimes led Tennessee Tech with 23 points a piece. Grimes also notched a double-double by grabbing 10 rebounds.
The Screaming Eagles will get a week away from game action before continuing its three-game road swing next Thursday at Southeast Missouri State University. Tipoff from Cape Girardeau, Missouri, is slated for 5:15 p.m. The game can be seen with a subscription to ESPN+ and heard on The Spin 95.7 FM.
