LEBANON, Ill.-Sophomore forward Morgan Dahlstrom (Grayslake, Illinois) had a career-high 19 points to lead University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball to a 53-50 come-from-behind Great Lakes Valley Conference victory over host McKendree University Saturday afternoon
USI (14-11, 7-10 GLVC) rallied from a seven-point first-half deficit and a four-point hole at the intermission to claim its fourth consecutive victory and earn its third straight berth into the GLVC Tournament.
Trailing 31-27 early in the third period, the Screaming Eagles put together an 8-0 run to take their first lead of the second half and their first advantage since early in the first period.
Junior guard Kendyl Dearing (Huntingburg, Indiana), who finished with 16 points, began the rally by hitting her fourth three-pointer of the contest. Dahlstrom also had a bucket in the run that put the Eagles up 35-31 with four minutes to play in the period.
USI took a two-point lead into the fourth quarter, where junior forward Hannah Wascher (Rantoul, Illinois) took over. Wascher, who had a game-high 12 rebounds, scored all of her eight points in the fourth period, including six straight for the Eagles, who went up 43-40 with just under seven minutes to play.
Wascher’s bucket with 4:29 to play in the contest gave the Eagles a 47-45 advantage; while Dahlstrom’s basket with 3:36 on the clock put USI up 49-45.
Dahlstrom, who added seven rebounds, scored seven of her 19 points in the fourth quarter, including three in the final minute as USI built a 52-47 lead with 16 seconds to play.
McKendree (11-16, 6-11 GLVC) cut the Eagles’ cushion to two with less than 15 seconds in the game when junior guard Amber Alexander drained a three-pointer.
Sophomore guard Randa Harshbarger (Philo, Illinois) made 1-of-2 free throws to put USI up 53-50 with 10 seconds to play, giving McKendree (11-16, 6-11 GLVC) a chance to tie the contest in its final possession.
Senior guard Kelsee Ennis’s three-pointer in the final five seconds, however, missed its mark as Wascher corralled the rebound to secure the Eagles’ fourth straight win.
USI concludes the regular season Thursday at 5:15 p.m. when it hosts No. 25 Bellarmine University. The Eagles can clinch a first-round home game in the GLVC Tournament with either a win or a University of Indianapolis loss to Saint Joseph’s College.
The GLVC Tournament first round begins February 28, with seeds No. 5-8 hosting seeds No. 9-12 on campus sites. The No. 1-4 seeds get a first-round bye into the quarterfinals, which are March 3 in St. Charles, Missouri.
