USI struggles to find flow on Saturday, falls to Tennessee Tech
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball had a difficult time finding its flow in its return to Liberty Arena to begin a three-game homestand on Saturday, as the Screaming Eagles fell to Tennessee Tech University, 81-62.
Southern Indiana moved to 16-7 overall and 8-4 in the Ohio Valley Conference, but the Screaming Eagles left the day still tied for fourth in the standings. Meanwhile, Tennessee Tech improved to 16-5 with a 10-2 mark in the OVC. The Golden Eagles moved up into a three-way tie for first in the OVC alongside Lindenwood University and Eastern Illinois University.
Tennessee Tech started the contest with a 7-0 run. Southern Indiana got going with success inside the paint and trailed only by four, 12-8, by the four-minute mark of the opening quarter. Graduate guard Lexie Green hit a key three late in the first, but the Tennessee Tech lead remained at four, 17-13, by the end of the first quarter.
Green connected on another three to begin the second quarter to make it a one-point game. However, Tennessee Tech responded, as the Golden Eagles went up 26-18 while holding Southern Indiana scoreless for nearly five minutes in the middle of the second. A triple by senior guard Vanessa Shafford ended the drought for USI. In the last two minutes of the first half, Tennessee Tech increased its lead, but a little boost from graduate forward Meredith Raley helped keep USI within six, 31-25, going into halftime.
Out of the halftime break, Tennessee Tech started the second half with a 21-0 run over the first five minutes of the third period. Sophomore guard Sophia Loden got USI on the second-half scoreboard with a three-pointer. A spark off the bench from sophomore forward Chloe Gannon and another triple by Loden helped USI finish the third on an 18-8 run. The Golden Eagles led 59-43 entering the fourth quarter.
Within the first three minutes of the fourth frame, graduate forward Madi Webb scored six points to help bring USI back within 11, 64-53. However, Tennessee Tech answered to halt Southern Indiana’s momentum. The Screaming Eagles came within 11 points once again after a Shafford layup with 2:36 left, but the Golden Eagles closed out the game from there.
Southern Indiana shot for just below 34 percent (21-62) overall and nearly 44 percent (7-16) from beyond the arc. USI missed only one free throw out of 14 attempts for over 92 percent. Shafford led USI in scoring with 12 points and pulled down seven rebounds. Junior guard Ali Saunders tallied 11 points.
Tennessee Tech went for 54 percent (27-50) from the floor and just under 37 percent (7-19) from three. The Golden Eagles shot nearly 77 percent (20-26) from the free-throw line. Tennessee Tech had five players in double figures with graduate guard Keeley Carter scoring a game-high 20 points.
The Screaming Eagles will resume their homestand from Liberty Arena next week. They will play the University of Arkansas at Little Rock on Thursday at 5 p.m. and celebrate Black History Month. Then USI will host Southeast Missouri State University for Homecoming and Hall of Fame Weekend next Saturday at 5 p.m. Tickets for all home games at Liberty Arena can be purchased online at usiscreamingeagles.com or the USI Ticket Office.