MACOMB, Ill. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball earned its 750th win in program history on Saturday with a 96-89 overtime victory on the road at Western Illinois University.
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The 750th program win came in USI’s first overtime game of the season. Plus, the milestone mark came on the heels of a sweep of a four-game road swing for Southern Indiana and a regular season sweep of Western Illinois. USI Women’s Basketball Head Coach Rick Stein, who is in his 25th season at the helm of the Screaming Eagles, has led USI to 602 of the 750 program victories. Saturday’s win was USI’s sixth consecutive victory going back to February 8, the second-longest winning streak this season.
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With the win, Southern Indiana improved to 20-6 overall for USI’s 14th 20-win season in program history as part of the Screaming Eagles 35th winning season in 2023-24. USI also improved to 15-1 in the Ohio Valley Conference, having already captured the regular season championship and No. 1 seed at the OVC Tournament March 6-9 at Ford Center in downtown Evansville, Indiana.
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Out of the opening tip on Saturday, Southern Indiana had a few good looks from beyond the arc that would not fall. The Screaming Eagles grabbed an early lead, but in the middle of the first quarter, Western Illinois went on a run to take a 13-9 lead with four remaining in the opening period. Western Illinois led 23-16 through the first frame.
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Southern Indiana made a charge to start the second quarter, scoring five straight points. Three-pointers from senior forward Meredith Raley (Haubstadt, Indiana) and junior guard Vanessa Shafford (Linton, Indiana) helped spark a 10-0 run, pushing USI in front, 26-23, with six minutes left in the first half. Later in the quarter, a scoreless drought allowed Western Illinois to retake a 37-33 advantage. Just ahead of halftime, USI hit a pair of threes with one right before the buzzer by graduate guard Tori Handley (Jeffersonville, Indiana). The Eagles trailed by one, 40-39, at the intermission.
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Early in the second half, Western Illinois built its lead up to six, 49-43. Southern Indiana fought back with a run in the middle of the third quarter, highlighted by a pair of baskets from freshman forward Chloe Gannon (Manchester, Tennessee) and a fast-break layup by freshman guard Triniti Ralston (Louisville, Kentucky). The effort by the freshmen gave the Screaming Eagles a 53-51 lead midway into the third. The two sides battled the rest of the quarter, as USI carried a 64-61 lead to the fourth stanza.
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Out of the gates for the fourth period, Gannon dropped in two consecutive baskets to reach double figures for the game, as USI led 68-64 at the 8:30 mark of the fourth. After Western Illinois regained the lead, Shafford knocked down a corner trey, putting USI back up by one at the six-minute mark. A minute later, Raley muscled up a three-point play to energize the Screaming Eagles. A two-possession game late, the Leathernecks made another push to eventually even the game at 81. In the last 1:48, neither side could find a go-ahead basket, leading to the first overtime of the season for USI Women’s Basketball.
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Southern Indiana drew first blood in the extra session when sophomore guard Ali Saunders (Depauw, Indiana) cashed in a three. A minute later, Western Illinois took the lead, but Shafford and the Eagles answered with another three. Then senior forward Madi Webb (Bedford, Indiana) fired up the Screaming Eagles again with a three-point play. Webb then followed it up in the next possession with another make in the post, making the score 92-85 USI. Another late bucket from Webb and free throws iced the win for Southern Indiana.
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The Screaming Eagles shot the ball for 47 percent (31-66) overall and for 38 percent (11-29) from long range. In a game with frequent trips to the foul line, USI was 23-29 for 79 percent at the stripe. Southern Indiana outrebounded Western Illinois by 15, 48-33. For the second consecutive game, USI had five players register double digits. Shafford posted her seventh double-double this season with 25 points and 10 rebounds. The 25 points were one off Shafford’s career best. Shafford drained seven three-pointers in the game. Webb poured in 15 points with eight boards, Gannon registered 14 points, and Saunders finished with 12 points. Saunders also grabbed six rebounds and dished out six assists. Also noteworthy, redshirt senior guard Addy Blackwell (Bloomington, Indiana) had nine points with a career-high eight assists.
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Western Illinois dropped to 16-11 and 7-9 in the OVC on Saturday. The Leathernecks exit Saturday in seventh place in the league standings. In Saturday’s game, Western Illinois was 38 percent shooting (26-68) with eight triples. The Leathernecks were 29-32 for above 90 percent at the charity stripe. Western Illinois had three players in double figures and was led by freshman combo guard Raegan McCowan. McCowan scored over half of Western Illinois’ scoring total, dropping 45 of the team’s 89 points.
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Southern Indiana will return home to Screaming Eagles Arena next week for a pair of home games against Lindenwood University and Southeast Missouri State University. Both games are 5 p.m. starts. Thursday’s game is Ascension Heart Health Night, and fans are encouraged to red out Screaming Eagles Arena. Saturday’s contest is Senior Night and the regular season finale.
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