Returning to Screaming Eagles Arena after a road loss against Lindenwood, the University of Southern Indiana women’s basketball team looked to move up in the Ohio Valley Conference standings and possibly earn a first-round bye. To have a chance at this, they needed to beat third-seeded Eastern Illinois. However, USI had already secured a spot in the OVC tournament with their win against Western Illinois on Thursday.
USI came out strong, forcing Eastern Illinois to call a timeout within the first two minutes. The Screaming Eagles then went on a six-point run, increasing their lead to 14-4 more than halfway through the first quarter. While Southern Indiana moved the ball well offensively, they also forced several shot clock violations, keeping a team that averages 65 points per game in the single digits for the quarter. The Eagles capped off a dominant first quarter with a deep 3-pointer from Ali Saunders, a junior guard, heading into the second quarter with a 20-9 lead.
The Panthers opened the second quarter with a couple of quick baskets, but USI’s Madi Webb, a graduate student forward/center, responded with back-to-back buckets in the paint, pushing the Screaming Eagles’ lead to 14 points four minutes in. Southern Indiana applied full-court pressure with three minutes left in the half, but the strategy backfired as Eastern Illinois capitalized with quick points and added to their total from the free-throw line.
As the first half wound down, USI appeared to lose some momentum, scoring just 12 points in the second quarter. Despite the slowdown, the Screagles maintained a 32-21 lead heading into halftime.
After the break, USI’s Meredith Raley, a graduate student forward, opened the third quarter with a quick basket. Eastern Illinois’ Jayda Johnston, also a graduate student forward, answered with a shot of her own. The teams traded points throughout the quarter, with the Screagles leading 44-33 late in the period. The Panthers chipped away at USI’s advantage, capped off by a 3-pointer from Alanna Phillippo, a freshman guard, in the final minute. The Screagles entered the fourth quarter with a 51-42 lead.
Although Eastern outscored USI 21-19 in the third quarter, it was the Screagles who came out firing in the fourth. Raley set the tone with an open layup under the basket, assisted by Webb. Both Raley and Webb finished the night in double figures, but it was Vanessa Shafford, a senior guard, who led USI’s offense with 18 points.
A minute later, Shafford electrified the crowd by sinking a 3-pointer, forcing Eastern Illinois to call a timeout. The shot not only extended USI’s lead but also secured Shafford’s place in history, giving her the program’s all-time record for career 3-pointers with 219.
Out of the timeout Southern Indiana went on an additional six-point run, increasing their lead to twenty. This lead stayed put for the rest of the game, as the Eagles ended victorious over Eastern Illinois 66-46. Similar to the first quarter, USI connected well on offense and their defensive pressure led to steals, shot clock violations and limited Eastern to four points in the fourth quarter, which is remarkable.
