EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball returned from the holiday break Tuesday night at Liberty Arena, home of the Screaming Eagles, with a 79-65 win over Morehead State University to close out the 2024 calendar year.
With Tuesday’s win, Southern Indiana improved to 11-3 overall and 3-0 in the Ohio Valley Conference after its third consecutive OVC win at home, remaining at the top of the conference standings. USI also improved to 8-0 inside Liberty Arena on the season. Morehead State dropped to 6-7 this season with a 1-2 mark in OVC play.
Southern Indiana jumped out to a quick 8-0 lead that forced Morehead State into a timeout nearly two minutes into the contest. Graduate forward Meredith Raley tallied five of USI’s first eight points. Morehead State responded out of the timeout to narrow the early deficit in the middle of the period, but back-to-back threes by the Screaming Eagles later in the first quarter pushed USI ahead by nine, 21-12. Raley continued to provide a strong presence, scoring 12 first-quarter points. USI led 30-17 after 10 minutes of action. USI’s 30 first-quarter points were a team season high for points in a quarter.
After shooting over 50 percent in the first quarter, the Screaming Eagles had a slower start to the second period with one field goal in the first three minutes of the frame. However, Southern Indiana picked up steam as the quarter went on. Sophomore forward Amiyah Buchanan scored consecutive baskets before back-to-back makes from Raley in the middle of the second extended USI’s advantage to 19, 42-23. USI’s lead reached as many as 22 late in the first half but went into halftime up by 18, 48-30. USI maintained its field-goal percentage of 50 percent going into the locker after effective looks in the paint.
Following a solid run late in the first half, junior guard Ali Saunders picked up where she left off before the intermission with USI’s first points of the second half near the eight-minute mark. Near the midway point of the third quarter, sophomore guard Sophia Loden canned her second triple of the game to increase Southern Indiana’s lead to 55-36. Loden reached double figures for the game by the end of the third quarter, as USI led 69-43 going to the fourth period.
Morehead State did not go quietly and battled back in the early portion of the fourth quarter. The Screaming Eagles were held to three points from the free-throw line and without a field goal for the first five and a half minutes of the fourth. Morehead State chipped away to pull within 16, 72-56, by the five-minute mark of the quarter. Raley ended the shooting drought with a layup to reach 20 points in the game. Morehead State continued to make a charge to climb within 12, 77-65, with one minute remaining. Senior guard Vanessa Shafford scored a wide-open layup with 40 seconds left to seal the game.
Despite a bit of a stagnant fourth quarter, Southern Indiana shot over 47 percent (30-63) for the game and 33 percent (6-18) from beyond the arc. USI went nearly perfect at the charity stripe, going 13-14 for over 92 percent at the line. USI outrebounded Morehead State 41-36. The Screaming Eagles were also plus-12 in points off turnovers and plus-14 in points in the paint. USI also had 27 bench points. Individually, Raley led USI with 20 points and nine rebounds. Shafford finished with 12 points and seven boards. Loden added 10 points with five rebounds and three steals.
Morehead State shot the ball for just under 39 percent (24-62) with eight three-pointers in 23 attempts for nearly 35 percent. Morehead State was 9-19 for 47.4 percent at the foul line. The Eagles also had three players in double digits with senior guard Aileen Marquez leading the way with 23 points.
The Screaming Eagles make their first road trip of the OVC season Thursday when USI heads to Tennessee Tech University for a 5:30 p.m. tilt in Cookeville, Tennessee. The Golden Eagles are 7-4 overall and 1-1 in conference action. The game can be seen with a subscription to ESPN+ and heard on The Spin 95.7 FM.
