THURSDAY'S SCORES
*Southern Indiana 87, @SIUE 64
*Morehead State 69, @Eastern Illinois 67
*@Southeast Missouri 80, Lindenwood 63
*Western Illinois 68, @UT Martin 49
SOUTHERN INDIANA 87, SIUE 64
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - University of Southern Indiana Women's Basketball picked up its sixth consecutive win on Thursday night when the Screaming Eagles captured an 87-64 road victory at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville to move to 5-0 in the Ohio Valley Conference.
Currently riding its best winning streak and best conference-play start since the 2021-22 season, Southern Indiana improved to 10-5 overall and 5-0 in conference action on Thursday. SIUE dropped to 3-14 this season and 0-4 in the OVC. Through Thursday's games, USI still sits in first place in the OVC standings with three schools right behind at 3-1.
The competitive history between Southern Indiana and SIUE added another chapter on Thursday. The two sides matched each other through the early minutes of the opening quarter. With the Screaming Eagles ahead 11-10 six minutes in, senior forward Madi Webb (Bedford, Indiana) hit a mid-range jumper. Webb, who was making a return to her former stomping grounds after spending three seasons at SIUE before transferring to USI, tallied eight points in the first quarter. Later in the quarter, freshman guard Triniti Ralston (Louisville, Kentucky) made her presence felt on the court, poking away a steal that led to an open-court layup. Ralston ended the first 10 minutes with a buzzer-beating floater to give USI a 19-12 lead after one.
In the second period, SIUE closed the gap a little, but Southern Indiana ramped up the play. Freshman forward Chloe Gannon (Manchester, Tennessee) capitalized on a pair of good looks inside before Webb drilled a straightaway three-pointer to put USI up 26-18 with 6:19 left in the first half. Later, the Eagles went aggressively inside to earn successful trips to the foul line. USI's defense held SIUE without a field goal in the final three minutes of the opening half. Plus, not only did USI take advantage of good post-play, but Southern Indiana knocked down its intermediate-range jump shots in the first half. Sophomore guard Ali Saunders (Depauw, Indiana) hit a tough turnaround shot in the last minute of the second period, leading to a 46-27 halftime lead for Southern Indiana. USI shot nearly 50 percent from the field in the first half.
The Cougars came out of the break with two consecutive buckets, but the Screaming Eagles were unfazed, as Webb answered with another jumper near the lane. Following solid defensive possessions by USI, the Eagles pushed their lead to over 20 points, 57-34, in the middle of the third quarter on a made trey by senior forward Meredith Raley (Haubstadt, Indiana). Junior guard Vanessa Shafford (Linton, Indiana) was also active in the third period, draining a pair of shots as part of a steady performance in the game. Late third-quarter free throws and a triple from Saunders gave USI a 71-42 advantage entering the fourth period.
SIUE tried to find a spark with a 9-2 run to begin the fourth, but Raley and Southern Indiana responded. Raley went to another gear and was aggressive on the offensive end, converting a three-point play with seven minutes left. At the 5:47 mark, Webb added to her stellar outing with another make to increase the Eagles' lead to 80-55. Meanwhile, USI's defense held SIUE without a field goal for another extended stretch of over four minutes to seal the team's sixth straight win.
Southern Indiana poured in 31 shots in 66 attempts for 47 percent from the floor in the game. USI cashed in six three-pointers and went 19-25 for 76 percent at the free-throw line. The Screaming Eagles set a new season-high with 54 rebounds while holding SIUE to 33 rebounds. Individually, Webb led all scorers with 18 points, which matched a career high that she previously set while in a SIUE uniform. Webb also notched her first double-double of the season by pulling down 10 boards. Raley recorded consecutive double-double games with 13 points and 11 rebounds on Thursday. Shafford also tallied 13 points, while Saunders posted 11 points.
SIUE was 19-64 for just under 30 percent shooting on Thursday, hitting eight triples. The Cougars were 18-28 for 64 percent at the line. SIUE had four players finish in double figures.
MOREHEAD STATE 69, EASTERN ILLINOIS 67
CHARLESTON, Ill. - Hallie Rhodes hit a buzzer-beating, game winning layup with just three seconds left in the game to lead the Morehead State women's basketball team past the Eastern Illinois Panthers 69-67 on the road Thursday, securing a second straight victory for the Eagles.
The Eagles (8-7, 3-1 OVC) had four players score in double figures, led by Skylar Barnes for the second straight game, who had 16 points and four steals while going three of four from beyond the arc. Rhodes tacked on 14 points and six rebounds and Melissa Secchiaroli helped out with 10 points from the bench.
The Morehead State offense was strong from three-point land, pouring in nine threes on 18 attempts. Secchiaroli hit three treys for the Eagles in the contest.
The Morehead State defense caused its share of mistakes in Thursday's game, forcing 14 Eastern Illinois turnovers while committing nine. Those takeaways turned into 15 points on the other end of the floor. Barnes' four steals led the way individually for the Eagles.
Also on the defensive end, Morehead State held Macy McGlone -- one of the top scorers in the OVC -- to just 10 points on 3-9 shooting.
After falling behind 14-13, Morehead State went on an 11-0 run with 3:24 left in the first quarter to take a 24-14 lead, a score that would hold for the rest of the period. Morehead State relied on its three-point shooting in the period, knocking down four shots to account for 12 of its 24 points.
The Eagles maintained their lead in the game's second frame and entered halftime with a 36-35 edge. Morehead State dominated in the paint, scoring six of its 12 points close to the basket.
Morehead State continued to preserve its halftime lead before going on a 7-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Rhodes, to expand its lead further to 45-37 with 6:24 to go in the third. Before the conclusion of the third period, the Panthers had cut into that lead somewhat, but the Eagles still entered the fourth quarter with a 53-50 edge. Morehead State played well near the basket, scoring 10 of its 17 points in the paint.
Morehead State kept its lead intact before going on a 5-0 run, finished off by Barnes' three, to grow the lead to 67-61 with 1:56 to go in the contest. The Panthers tied the game with 9.2 seconds to play, but Hallie Rhodes scored the winner on an assist from Veronica Charles. Morehead State took advantage of its opportunities in the post, scoring eight of its 16 points in the paint.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 80, LINDENWOOD 63
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri Women's Basketball (5-10, 2-2 OVC) dominated in-state rival Lindenwood (2-11, 0-3 OVC) on Thursday night, winning by a final score of 80-63 at the Show-Me Center. The win marked the second-straight conference win of the season.
Preseason First-Team All-OVC selection Jaliyah Green led the way for the Redhawks offensively, scoring 16 points on 6-for-11 shooting and was a perfect 2-for-2 from the charity stripe. She finished 2-for-3 from behind the arc as well.
Four Redhawks finished in double-digits, including Green, as SEMO had one of their best offensive days of the season. The backcourt trio of Green, Alecia Doyle, and Kiyley Flowers scored 16, 14, and 12 points, respectively. Forward Amiyah Buchanan finished with 10 points and missed just one shot in the contest.
SEMO scored half of their points the paint with 40 to just 26 from Lindenwood. The Redhawks also outrebounded the Lions by a final margin of 25-16. Kiyley Flowers had a game-high seven rebounds to lead the way.
As a team, SEMO shot 30-for-49 from the field (61-percent) a new season-high in 2023-24. The Redhawks also set a new season-high shooting 50-percent from three-point land (5-10).
Amiyah Buchanan got the scoring underway for the Redhawks with a nice post move in the lane, off the feed from Jaliyah Green. Buchanan turned over her left shoulder and finished the layup.
Three straight baskets from the Lions gave LU an early 6-2 lead. Alecia Doyle cut into the lead with a nice jump shot, elevating over a defender to get the Redhawks to within two.
Back-to-back layups gave SEMO its first lead of the contest at the 4:18 mark. Daejah Richmond and Abby Stephens, off the bench, scored on back-to-back possessions to give the Redhawks an 8-6 lead.
Trailing 9-8 late in the first quarter, Jaliyah Green went on an 8-0 run by herself to give the Redhawks a 16-9 lead with 2:25 left in the quarter. The Redhawks leading scorer buried back-to-back triples, and a trip to the free throw line for a quick eight points.
An Alecia Doyle jumpshot was the last basket of the quarter for SEMO as the Redhawks led 18-12 after the first 10-minutes.
SEMO started the second quarter on a quick 5-0 run helped by a Megan Barton three pointer, and a layup from Indiya Bowen on the fast break.
The Redhawks won the second quarter 22-15, led by Jaliyah Green who finished the quarter with six points.
With 6:50 to go in the second quarter, guard Alecia Doyle had a nice jab step, jump shot just outside of the elbow to give SEMO a 27-14 lead.
The Lions would cut it to as close as eight points with an Ellie Bureggemann second-chacne three pointer, trimming the score to 29-21 SEMO.
The Redhawks closed the half on a 6-0 run over the final 1:56 of the quarter. In contrast, LU ended the half on a 2:14 scoring draught as the Redhawks led 40-27 at halftime on Thursday night.
At the half, SEMO was shooting 56-percent from the field (15-27) and 43-percent from three-point land (3-7). Jaliyah Green finished the half with a game-high 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting and was a perfect 2-for-2 from the charity stripe.
SEMO's defense forced Lindenwood into 15 first half turnovers which the Redhawks converted into 17 points. SEMO outrebounded LU 12-8 in the opening 20-minutes led by Kiyley Flowers with five rebounds.
Lindenwood shot just 48-percent from the field and was led in scoring by forward Alyssa Nielsen with eight points.
The Redhawks continued their dominant ways in the third quarter, starting with a pair of Indiya Bowen free throws to give SEMO a 15-point lead.
Forward Amiyah Buchanan continued to dominate the paint, scoring a nice jumper just inside the free throw line off an assist from Kiyley Flowers.
Leading the OVC in steals, Flowers stole the ball on the defensive end of the floor and dribbled coast-to-coast and found Jaliyah Green for an easy two-point basket as the Redhawks led 46-30 with 7:25 left in the quarter.
The Lions never got above the 16-point deficit mark, as they cut it to 16 with 5:10 left off a Makayla Wallace free throw.
With 2:14 left in the third, Amiyah Buchanan finished another layup, growing SEMO's lead to a 20-point advantage nearing the end of the quarter.
Back-to-back second chance baskets from SEMO, an Abby Stephens layup and an Alecia Doyle pullup jump shot, gave the Redhawks a 21-point advantage. At the end of the third, SEMO led 62-41.
The Redhawks grew their lead right out of the third quarter break with a pair of free throws by Daejah Richmond to give SEMO a 23-point lead.
Kiyley Flowers scored seven-of-her-10 points in the fourth quarter on a perfect 3-for-3 shooting quarter.
SEMO shot an impressive 6-for-8 from the floor in the final period and was 6-for-7 from the charity stripe and held on for an 80-63 victory.
UT MARTIN 68, WESTERN ILLINOIS 49
MARTIN, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin women's basketball team overcame a slow start to the contest before shooting 67 percent in the final three quarters to cruise to a 68-49 home victory against new Ohio Valley Conference foe Western Illinois on Thursday evening.
The Skyhawks (6-9, 3-1 OVC) got back to their winning ways by shooting 51.1 percent from the floor – marking the third consecutive game that the squad has shot over 50 percent from the field. Despite a game which saw five lead changes and four ties, the home squad led for nearly 32 minutes of the contest and placed four players in double figures.
UT Martin pushed the team's lead out to nine points early in the third quarter but Western Illinois answered with a 10-0 run of its own to not only erase the team's deficit but also take its first lead since midway through the second quarter. The deficit would be short-lived for the Skyhawks as they immediately answered with a 13-0 run to take command of the game and never looked back.
Four players reached double figures for the Skyhawks, led by the play of freshman Norah Clark who tossed in 19 points while adding eight rebounds and three steals. The sophomore trio of Anaya Brown, Josie Storey and Lexi Rubel also eclipsed the double-digit mark with Brown adding 13 points while Storey knocked down three three-pointers on the way to a 12-point performance. Rounding out the squad was Rubel who flirted with a triple-double after tallying 11 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in the victory.
Western Illinois (11-4, 2-2 OVC) dropped its second league contest in the last three opportunities after shooting just 30 percent from the field. The Leathernecks placed three players in double figures, led by Addi Brownfield who chipped in 12 points and five rebounds while Anna Deets (11 points, five rebounds) and Raegan McCowan (10 points, four rebounds) rounded out the trio in double digits.