SATURDAY'S SCORES
@Lindenwood 84, UT Martin 75
@Southern Indiana 58, Morehead State 46
@Tennessee Tech 71, Southeast Missouri 65
@Little Rock 76, SIUE 69
@Eastern Illinois 75, Tennessee State 58
LINDENWOOD 84, UT MARTIN 75
ST. CHARLES, Mo. - The Lindenwood women's basketball team secured their first Division I victory in program history on Saturday afternoon by defeating UT Martin 84-75.
Things were back and forth throughout the first quarter of play, with both teams remaining within a few points of one another for the majority of the time. The Lions started off their shooting hot, however, compiling a first-quarter shooting percentage of 54.5% from the floor as a team. Lindenwood also hit 3-6 of their three pointers for a 50% team percentage outside the arc.
The offense just kept on rolling for the home team, who would carry a 43-41 lead into halftime after an outstanding 83.3% from the floor and 75% from behind the three-point line. The Lions edged the Skyhawks in virtually every statistical category by the conclusion of the first half, out-rebounding the visiting quad 14-12 and compiling 13 total assists as a group as opposed to UT Martin's five total.
The third quarter looked equally as strong for the Lions, who outpaced the Skyhawks 28-20. The Lions compiled another high shooting percentage from the floor with their 69.2% as a team while also draining 5-9 of their three pointers while UT Martin went 0-6 from outside the arc. Multiple Lions players heated up this quarter, including Masyn McWilliams, who would end the day with both a personal and team-high 25 points. The graduate transfer set the new standard offensively for the Lions with this stat, surpassing the previous game-high number of points this season, which was achieved by Alana Striverson's 24-point effort against Morehead.
Lindenwood had a 10-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, up 71-61, and that lead would stand throughout the entirety of the fourth quarter. Each time UT Martin would attempt to close in on the Lions, they held them off with ease, creating more distance offensively as the clock ran out.
Along with McWilliams' milestone performance, Mary McGrath reached the double-double mark for the third time this season and second game in a row with her 16 points and 10 rebounds. The sophomore had arguably her most well-rounded stat line of the season so far with her two assists, four steals and three blocks as well, being a key piece in the Lions' success this game. Devin Fuhring also contributed in multiple categories with her 16 point, eight assist game.
Striverson and Emily Benzschawel also scored in double figures today for the Lions, also being key parts of Lindenwood's offensive dominance all game long.
Sophomore Shae Littleford reeled off a career-best 29 points on 10-of-19 shooting for the Skyhawks (9-13, 6-6 Ohio Valley Conference). The Charleston, Ill. native went 7-of-7 from the free throw line while adding four rebounds, two assists and a steal in 39 minutes.
UT Martin's Sharnecce Currie-Jelks posted 16 points and a game-high seven rebounds while Lexi Rubel (11 points, five rebounds, three steals and two assists) also scored in double digits for UT Martin. Josie Storey swiped a game-high four steals for the Skyhawks, who led by as many as nine points in the first half but were outscored by a 12-2 margin midway through the second half.
SOUTHERN INDIANA 68, MOREHEAD STATE 46
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - University of Southern Indiana Women's Basketball got back in the win column on Homecoming at Screaming Eagles Arena on Saturday, as the Screaming Eagles displayed a high level of toughness in a 58-46 victory against Morehead State University.
Saturday's win was highlighted by a gritty fourth quarter from Southern Indiana, leading to a win that snapped a four-game skid for USI. The victory improved USI's record to 10-13 overall and 4-8 in the Ohio Valley Conference. Saturday's win also moved USI into a tie for seventh in the OVC standings. Morehead State's record dropped to 9-14 overall and 5-7 in OVC play, good for a fifth-place tie in the OVC standings.
The game started slow offensively, as each side tried to find its flow shooting. Multiple possessions in the first quarter went deep into the shot clock. USI jumped on the scoreboard first on a jumper by senior forward Hannah Haithcock (Washington Courthouse, Ohio). Each team had scoreless droughts that lasted over a couple of minutes due to strong efforts on the defensive end. Southern Indiana and Morehead State were all square at seven after the first period.
Southern Indiana quickly grabbed a three-point lead at the start of the second quarter after sophomore guard Vanessa Shafford (Linton, Indiana) canned a triple. Shafford ended up giving USI a 12-9 lead after a layup, scoring the first five USI points of the second quarter. Near the six-minute mark, senior guard Soffia Rieckers (Evansville, Indiana) splashed home a three to push USI's lead to five, 17-12. After a layup by Haithcock with three minutes remaining in the first half, USI obtained its biggest lead in the opening half of nine points, 21-12. Morehead State chipped away before halftime, as USI took a 22-17 lead into the break.
Out of halftime, the Screaming Eagles increased their advantage to double digits following a basket by Haithcock and a banked-in three-pointer from Shafford with the shot clock winding down. USI went ahead 27-17 with 8:27 left in the third quarter. Once again, Morehead State chipped away to cut USI's margin down to three near the midway point of the third, 27-24. Two minutes later, Haithcock snapped a two-minute scoreless skid for USI with a crafty post move. USI finished the third quarter on an 8-0 run with six of the eight points coming from Haithcock. Southern Indiana led 38-27 entering the fourth quarter.
At the start of the fourth period, Rieckers drove the right baseline and got a mid-range shot to fall to give USI a 13-point advantage, 40-27. Morehead State responded by cutting USI's lead down to six, 41-35, with just over seven minutes left in the fourth. USI's Shafford answered with a three-pointer to move the Screaming Eagles' lead back up to nine, 44-35.
Following the halfway point of the fourth, the intensity ramped up. Morehead State kept fighting, trimming USI's lead down to eight with four minutes remaining. Seconds later, Southern Indiana got a big basket and a foul by junior forward Meredith Raley (Haubstadt, Indiana), giving USI an 11-point lead, 49-38. Near the three-minute mark, Morehead State got back within seven. Raley responded with a basket before a shot-clock violation to push USI's margin back up to nine, 51-42. About a minute later, Shafford drained a three to seemingly give USI the needed insurance for the win, as Raley and USI closed out the victory with made free throws.
Southern Indiana had three players finish in double figures. Shafford posted her fourth double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds. It was her 18th game scoring 10 or more and her sixth game with 10 or more rebounds. Haithcock recorded 18 points with 13 coming in the second half. She also grabbed eight boards. Raley tallied a dozen with nine points coming in the final frame. For the game, USI shot 19-56 for 33.9 percent, 15-19 for 78.9 percent at the line, and made five threes. Southern Indiana outrebounded Morehead State 46-38 with 17 offensive rebounds that led to 19 second-chance points.
For Morehead State, senior guard Veronica Charles led the team with 17 points. Morehead State was 17-61 for 27.9 percent shooting, 5-6 for 83.3 percent at the stripe, and hit seven triples.
TENNESSEE TECH 71, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 65
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Junior Anna Walker came out in force, nearly collecting a double-double in the first quarter alone, then solid performances from Maaliya Owens, Reghan Grimes, Jada Guinn and the rest of the Tech lineup helped stave off any late comeback bids by the Redhawks on Saturday as the Golden Eagles claimed a 71-65 victory in the Eblen Center in the team’s annual Play4Kay game.
A late six-point run in the fourth quarter – Tech’s largest run of the game – was enough to seal the deal. A Flowers layup with 3:35 remaining knotted the game at 60, but the Golden Eagles retook the lead as Grimes took the offensive board off a missed trey from Jordan Brock and scooped it back into the bucket.
Reagan Hurst hit the front end of a pair of free throws to extend the Tech lead back out to 63-60, but Rahmena Henderson sliced the advantage as she hit the second of two charity tosses. Guinn answered with a layup on the other end with 2:10 left in the game.
Jaliyah Green drew a foul from Hurst and knocked down both free throws to cut it back to a 65-63 lead. SEMO, however, did not score again until a buzzer-beating layup from Flowers. In that final 60 seconds, Grimes and Guinn each went 3-for-4 at the line to build that 6-0 run and lock up the victory.
Walker finished the day with 16 points and 12 rebounds after collecting nine each in the first eight minutes of the game. She was 7-of-15 from the floor with two long-range connections as Walker also collected an assist and a steal in the contest.
Owens led all scorers with a game-high 18 points, shooting 6-for-14 with four 3-pointers. She also had four rebounds, two assists, a steal and two blocks. Guinn continued her efficient shooting streak with a 4-for-7 effort and 11 points as she was also 3-for-4 at the line with one board, five assists, two steals and a block. She has shot over .500 from the field in six of the last seven games and in 14 of the team’s 22 games this year.
Southeast Missouri (9-14, 4-8 OVC) had one double-digit scorer in the contest as Henderson picked up 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting with two 3-pointers to go along with five rebounds. Kiyley Flowers had nine and Halle Smith and Alecia Doyle each had eight points, while leading scorer Kennedi Watkins had six.
Tech improved on Thursday’s outing as the Golden Eagles dominated on the glass, outrebounding the Redhawks 41-34 with Walker and Grimes – with 10 rebounds herself – able to collect double-digit caroms. Walker had nine offensive boards and Grimes picked up five on the scoring end.
The first quarter was a narrow affair as the Golden Eagles took a 18-14 edge late as the Redhawks went nearly 5:20 seconds with out a field goal, shooting 1-for-10 to close out the stanza. SEMO, however, countered with an 8-0 run in the second quarter as the Redhawks outscored Tech 17-14 with the Golden Eagles taking a 32-31 lead into the intermission.
Both teams scored 19 points in the third quarter, even as the Golden Eagles went 1-for-11 on field goals before the media timeout. As the edge at the quarter remained the same, Tech outscored the Redhawks 20-15 in the fourth for the win.
Tech ended the game shooting 35.8 percent from the field – 24-of-67 – including a 46.2 percent mark down the stretch in the fourth. SEMO shot 45.1 percent for the game, hitting 25 of 31 shots, and was hitting over 50 percent in the third and fourth quarters.
The Golden Eagles were 8-for-23 from 3-point range to SEMO’s 3-for-8, while Tech hit 15-of-22 free throws, SEMO 16-of-17.
LITTLE ROCK 76, SIUE 59
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Freshman Macy Silvey scored a career-high 14 points to lead the Cougars, but Little Rock took a 25-point lead at the half to edge the Cougars, 76-59 on Saturday afternoon at Jack Stephens Center.
SIUE falls to 6-17 overall and 5-7 in Ohio Valley Conference play. Little Rock improves to 14-9 and 11-1.
The Trojans shot 52 percent (16-31) and scored 22 of their 40 points in the paint in the opening half. SIUE was held to 13 percent (4-31) and scoreless from deep through the first 20 minutes.
SIUE, however, flipped a switch in the second half, knocking down seven of its first eight shots to cut the deficit to 15 points. The Cougars kept their foot on the gas for the remainder of the period, outscoring Little Rock 27-18.
The Cougars shot 56 percent (9-16) and were 4-6 from deep while outrebounding the Trojans 10-4 in the third. SIUE outscored Little Rock 44-36 and remained strong rebounding, owning the glass 24-10 in the final 20 minutes.
The Cougars, entering the contest as the OVC leader in free throws made per game, shot 86 percent (18-21) at the line.
Silvey led the Cougars scoring with 14 points, scoring 12 in the second half. She finished the contest 5-8 from the field and was lights out from behind the arc, going 4-6. Her four three pointers made set a career high.
Forward Olivia Clayton also ended the game in double-figures, tying a career-high 10 points. She was 4-9 from the field and 2-2 at the charity stripe. She also collected five rebounds, all on the offensive end, four of which led to second chance buckets.
Freshman Azaria Moore made the most of her opportunity, scoring four points while collecting four offensive boards. All four of her offensive rebounds led to Cougar points.
Ajulu Thatha and Sofie Lowis each contributed nine points. Thatha's eight rebounds led SIUE.
Little Rock's Tia Harvey led all scorers with 19 points, shooting 9-15. Sali Kourouma led all rebounders with 10 and scored 10 for a double-double.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 75, TENNESSEE STATE 58
CHARLESTON, Ill. - Eastern Illinois women's basketball jumped ahead early and withstood a late surge to earn a 75-58 home win over the Tennessee State Lady Tigers on Saturday afternoon at Lantz Arena in the team's annual CARE Game. With the win, the Panthers improve to 19-3 overall and 12-0 in Ohio Valley Conference play, the best start to OVC play in school history. The Panthers' 12 OVC wins also matches their longest ever in-season OVC winning streak, set during the 2009-10 season. Overall, the Panthers have won 15 consecutive OVC regular season games dating back to the end of last season.
The Panthers jumped ahead to begin the game, as five early points from Morgan Litwiller helped earn EIU an 11-5 lead. After some Panther free throws made it 15-9, Monahan sank a three pointer to make it 18-9. EIU would take a 21-11 lead before three TSU free throws made it 21-14 to end the 1st quarter. McGlone found space in the lane and was able to score the first two buckets of the second quarter to up the Panthers' lead to 25-14. After TSU's Kianni Westbrook made a layup to cut it to single digits, Monahan responded with yet another three-pointer to give EIU a 12-point lead. After a 6-0 TSU run, Taris Thornton converted a one-handed jumper in the paint and Monahan hit her third three of the half to widen the gap back to double digits. After a three from TSU's Gia Adams, Lariah Washington hit a jump shot to make it 35-25 at halftime.
The Panthers took control right out of the gate to begin the seconds half, as back-to-back threes from Lyric Johnson and Washington were followed by McGlone finding a cutting Monahan for a layup underneath to give EIU their biggest lead up to that point at 43-25, forcing a TSU timeout. The Panthers would keep the Lady Tigers at bay for the remainder of the third quarter, continuously finding holes in the Lady Tigers' full court press and never letting TSU get closer than 15. EIU went up by as many as 21 when another three from Litwiller made it 60-39. TSU's Ashley Malone made a layup to make it 60-41 at the end of the third quarter and ultimately spark a 12-1 TSU run that made it 61-51 with just under seven minutes remaining. McGlone and Monahan answered the bell, scoring nine of EIU's next 10 points along with a free throw from Thornton to make it 71-56 with less than two minutes remaining, effectively putting the game away.
McGlone had 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting to go along with six rebounds and three blocked shots for her fourth 20+ point performance of the season. Monahan had 19 points on 6-of-12 shooting, just one shy of her career high, to go along with six assists and five rebounds. Litwiller had a near double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds while Washington scored seven. Johnson had six points and three rebounds while Thornton had five points off the bench and Julia Bengtson came off the bench to score three points and collect a career high-tying six rebounds. Ellie Colson got into the game late and scored a layup on her only attempt.
Against TSU's aggressive full court press, the Panthers turned the ball over only 14 times. EIU shot 50% from the field and accumulated 19 assists on 27 made shots.
Gia Adams led Tennessee State with 19 points, going 5-of-8 from long range. Ashely Malone had 11 points while Erica Haynes-Overton added 10 points.