Screaming Eagles secure gritty home win against Leathernecks
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball secured another gritty Ohio Valley Conference victory on Saturday, winning 72-58 against Western Illinois University from Liberty Arena, home of the Screaming Eagles.
USI completed a homestand sweep on Saturday after also capturing a win on Thursday. With Saturday’s win, Southern Indiana improved to 14-5 overall and 6-2 in the OVC. USI was in a four-way tie for second in the OVC by the end of the afternoon. Additionally, the Screaming Eagles remained undefeated at home with their 10th home victory of the season. On the flip side, Western Illinois dropped to 9-8 this season and 3-5 in conference action.
Southern Indiana wasted no time getting going on Saturday. The Screaming Eagles jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first two minutes thanks to two three from sophomore guard Sophia Loden and a pair of baskets by graduate forward Meredith Raley. USI had another strong spurt in the back half of the first quarter, as sophomore guard Triniti Ralston joined the early scoring with a three-point play and a triple. The Eagles led 22-8 after the opening period.
In the second quarter, the game became more defensive and low-scoring. However, Ralston continued where she left off at the end of the first. Ralston reached double figures after hitting a three, converting at the foul line, and scoring a layup in the middle of the second. Southern Indiana’s advantage reached 31-12 with four minutes left in the first half. Senior guard Vanessa Shafford scored five points late in the half, as USI went into the locker room up 38-19.
Western Illinois made a run out of halftime by connecting on a couple of threes and getting to the free-throw line. The Leathernecks trimmed Southern Indiana’s lead down to 10, 43-33, three minutes into the second half. Western Illinois got the deficit down to single digits before Raley splashed in a three-pointer and earned a three-point play seconds later to push the Eagles back ahead by 12, 49-37. Southern Indiana went into the fourth quarter ahead 58-45.
The Screaming Eagles maintained a 13-point advantage in the early going of the fourth quarter, but Western Illinois drained a pair of threes to chip away. The Leathernecks cut USI’s lead down to six, 62-56, near the midway point of the fourth. Down the stretch of the contest, Southern Indiana took care of business at the free-throw line and outscored Western Illinois 10-2. Plus, USI’s defense held the Leathernecks without a field goal in the final five minutes to help close out the win.
Southern Indiana shot 43 percent (25-58) from the floor and 33 percent (7-21) from three in the game. USI went 15-17 for 88 percent at the free-throw line. The Eagles also dominated on the glass, 42-26. Raley dropped a game-high 21 points for her fifth 20-point game of the season and fourth such game in the last six outings. Ralston had 16 points with seven rebounds and four assists. Loden tallied 13 points to match her career best. Shafford finished with her fourth double-double of the season and 16th in her career, posting 10 points and 11 boards.
Western Illinois was limited to 36.5 percent shooting (19-52) but connected for 40 percent (8-20) from beyond the arc. The Leathernecks went 12-14 for over 85 percent at the foul stripe. Sophomore forward Raegan McCowan led three Leathernecks in double figures with 18 points.
The Screaming Eagles head back on the road next week to Illinois. Southern Indiana opens the road trip Thursday at 5 p.m. at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The game can be seen on ESPN+ and heard on The Spin 95.7 FM.
