THURSDAY'S SCORES
@Morehead State 67, UT Martin 49
@Southern Indiana 77, Southeast Missouri 46
@Eastern Illinois 75, Tennessee Tech 74
@Western Illinois 76, Tennessee State 59
Little Rock 48, @SIUE 45
MOREHEAD STATE 67, UT MARTIN 49
MOREHEAD, Ky. - Morehead State blistered the nets to end the first quarter, led the final 36 minutes of play, and knocked off UT Martin 67-49 Thursday night in Ellis T. Johnson Arena.
Morehead State (8-8, 3-2 OVC) got down four to start the game but used a 14-2 run to take a 16-8 lead at the media timeout. The Eagles shot 9-14 (64%) from the floor, including five of their eight three point shots. UT Martin hit six of their 10 field goal attempts in the opening quarter, but were hampered by six turnovers, leading to 13 MSU points, and the Eagles took a 25-12 into the quarter break.
The Eagles had four players finish in double figures, led by Landon Forbes, who posted her first career double-double with 16 points and a career-high 10 rebounds. Kate Dike posted her second straight double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. It was her fifth double-double of the season and the sixth of her career.
Josefine Enander tossed in 14 points, hitting four three-pointers. Marie Sepp added 12 points, her fifth double-figure scoring game in the last six.
UT Martin (7-7, 3-2 OVC) was led by Zy Thompson with 16 points. Kenley McCarn finished with 13.
After the torrid finish at the end of the first period, the Eagles cooled off in the second quarter, hitting just five of 17 (29%) from the floor. Morehead State stretched their lead to 22 on a Violet McNece free throw at the 6:22 mark. The Skyhawks finished the period with a 13-2 run as Morehead State hit just one of their last field goals attempts. MSU led at the intermission 40-29.
Both teams struggled shooting in the third quarter. Morehead State managed just two of 14 from the floor in the period, while UT Marting went four for 11. The Skyhawks outscored the Eagles 12-9 in the quarter, cutting the MSU lead to five on a pair of Thompson free throws with just under six minutes to go in the period. MSU led 49-41 heading to the final period.
The Eagles turned up the defense in the final quarter holding UTM to just two of 12 shooting from the floor, and outscored UTM 18-8 in the quarter. The Skyhawks were unable to get any closer than six. The Eagles shot five of 13 from the floor and hit all six of their free throws in the quarter.
SOUTHERN INDIANA 77, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 46
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - University of Southern Indiana Women's Basketball returned home to Liberty Arena Thursday night with a dominant bounce-back victory, downing Southeast Missouri State University by a final score of 77-46.
After a tough road loss last Saturday, USI Women's Basketball (10-4, 4-1 OVC) established itself on both ends of the court on Thursday night, turning strong defense into offense and cashing in at the free-throw line. USI shot 35.6 percent (21-59) overall and over 36 percent (7-19) from beyond the arc. The Screaming Eagles converted at the foul line frequently, going 28-35 for 80 percent. USI also took control on the glass, winning the rebounding battle 45-26. 21 offensive boards led to 15 second-chance points. Defensively, USI forced 30 turnovers and recorded 17 steals, leading to 39 USI points off turnovers and 20 fast-break points.
Senior guard Ali Saunders led all scorers with 27 points on 6-10 shooting overall, 5-8 from three, and 10-11 at the charity stripe. The outing was Saunders' second straight 20-point game and fourth in the last seven games. Saunders has scored in double figures in seven consecutive games.
Additionally, during Thursday's game, Saunders established a new program record for most consecutive free throws made by setting a new mark of 41. The previous record has been held by Kathy Lauck since the 1993-94 season.
Other notable performances from Thursday's triumph included junior guard Sophia Loden notching her sixth double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds, and junior forward Chloe Gannon also scored double digits with 10 points.
Southeast Missouri (5-9, 1-4 OVC) shot just under 35 percent (16-46) from the floor, under 27 percent from three (7-26), and below 64 percent (7-11) at the free-throw line.
The Screaming Eagles came out of the gates with a fast start, taking a quick 10-1 lead through the first four and a half minutes. Saunders was an early catalyst, tallying 14 first-quarter points. Meanwhile, the Eagles' defense stifled the Redhawks into nine turnovers in the opening period, which USI converted into 18 points. USI led 24-10 at the end of the first quarter.
Saunders picked up where she left off from the first quarter by opening the second period with a three pointer. However, USI went the next three minutes without a field goal until freshman forward Channah Gannon scored to give the Eagles a 20-point advantage, 31-11, as USI's defense continued to lock down the Southeast Missouri. The Eagles went on an 11-0 run in the latter portion of the second quarter, increasing their lead to 40-11 with three minutes left in the first half. After some exchanged baskets, USI went into the halftime break ahead 46-19. Saunders dropped 21 points in the first half, while USI capitalized with 25 points off turnovers defensively and 11 second-chance points on the offensive glass.
The two teams came out of halftime going back and forth. However, the contest turned into a low-scoring defensive battle. With USI up 54-26 and under five minutes remaining in the third quarter, Loden scored on offensive putback to register her sixth double-double of the season. SEMO scored four points in the final minute of the third, as USI led 58-32 at the end of the third period.
After a slow offensive start to the fourth quarter, Saunders tacked on to her scoring performance with a three-pointer at the 7:30 mark, extending the Eagles' advantage to 30, 62-32. About a minute later, Chloe Gannon became the third Screaming Eagle in double figures with a hook shot in the paint. After a little bit of a dry spell from the floor in the middle of the fourth quarter, freshman guard Lily Graves drained back-to-back triples off the bench to put the final exclamation marks on USI's big win.
Through Thursday's action around the Ohio Valley Conference, USI sits in a three-way tie for first alongside Western Illinois University and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a 4-1 conference record.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 75, TENNESSEE TECH 74
CHARLESTON, Ill. - Eastern Illinois defense came up big all night including on the final possession as the Panthers picked up a 75-74 win over Tennessee Tech on Thursday night at Groniger Arena.
Tiny Lewis gave the Panthers the one point lead with seven seconds remaining knocking down a pair of free throws. Lewis scored 12 points, one of five Panthers in double figures.
EIU made stops on the final two Tennessee Tech offensive possessions collecting 18 steals in the game leading to 22 points off turnovers.
The Panthers had led 60-51 at the end of three quarters but that lead was erased by the Golden Eagles behind the sharp shooting of Reagan Hurst who hit a pair of big 3-pointers including one with 1:37 to play giving TTU a 74-70 lead. Hurst had ten points.
EIU scored the final five points on a 3-pointer by Lewis and her two free throws as EIU improved to 2-14 overall, 1-4 in the OVC.
TTU took its first lead of the fourth quarter with 6:22 remaining on a basket by LaReesha Cawthorn as she finished with ten points. Reghan Grimes led the Golden Eagles with 29 points as they fell to 10-4 overall, 3-2 in the OVC.
EIU shot 54.4 percent for the game. Ava Stoller led EIU with 15 points followed by Sydney-James Desroches with 14. Meioshe Mason had 13 and Clara Glad 11 points to go with five steals.
WESTERN ILLINOIS 76, TENNESSEE STATE 59
MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois women's basketball used a strong second half and a decisive fourth-quarter surge to secure a 76–59 Ohio Valley Conference victory over Tennessee State on Thursday evening at Western Hall.
The Leathernecks trailed by three after the opening quarter before taking control with a 20–11 second quarter to go into halftime up 35–29. WIU continued to build separation in the third and closed the game with a 26-point fourth quarter to improve to 12–2 overall and 4–1 in OVC play.
Mia Nicastro led all scorers with 20 points, adding eight rebounds, an assist, a block and a steal in 37 minutes of action. Addi Brownfield finished with 12 points, while Madison Davis added a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds off the bench. Mallory Shetley chipped in 11 points, and Kaylen Reed contributed eight points and five assists.
Western Illinois shot 39.7 percent from the field and went 20-for-26 at the free-throw line, capitalizing on 26 points off turnovers. The Leathernecks also held a 34–26 advantage in points in the paint and outscored Tennessee State 41–30 in the second half.
Tennessee State was led by Aaniya Webb with 11 points, while Kiki Roberts added eight off the bench. The Tigers were limited to 36.4 percent shooting and committed 24 turnovers.
LITTLE ROCK 48, SIUE 45
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - Little Rock turned in one of its most complete performances of the season Saturday afternoon, rolling past Tennessee State 76–39 at the Jack Stephens Center to improve to 7–7 overall and 3–1 in Ohio Valley Conference play. The Trojans have now won three in a row.
Little Rock controlled the game on both ends, scoring 42 points in the paint while forcing turnovers that led to 21 points. Little Rock's defense was especially stifling after halftime, holding Tennessee State to just eight points in the second half.
Little Rock blew the game open in the third quarter, outscoring Tennessee State 20–8. Jordan Holman controlled the paint throughout the period, finishing with 15 points and nine rebounds, while Mya Cotto and Destinee Salgado added timely baskets to extend the margin. Alaina Payne orchestrated the offense and cleaned the glass as Tennessee State struggled to generate consistent looks, committing multiple turnovers and missing several open shots.
The Trojans put the finishing touches on the win in the fourth quarter, holding the Tigers to just four points. Brenna Burk knocked down a three-pointer, Salgado added a tip-in, and Lidia Belmonte Hurtado capped the scoring with a fast-break layup. Little Rock allowed only two field goals in the final period, closing out a dominant 37-point victory. Every available Trojan saw action and scored.
Jarahle Daniels finished with 13 points and three steals, while Cotto matched her with 13 points and added three steals of her own.
Salgado chipped in 11 points and seven rebounds, and Pearson McVay contributed seven boards and a block as Little Rock continued to showcase its depth.
Tennessee State opened the game with back-to-back baskets, but Little Rock answered quickly. Payne sparked the Trojans early with a layup off an assist from Cotto, and Salgado followed with a three-point play to give Little Rock its first lead. Holman added a late basket to tie the game before Daniels scored with six seconds remaining, sending the Trojans into the first break with a 15–13 advantage.
Little Rock began to separate in the second quarter with a decisive run. Cotto ignited the stretch with a three-pointer and a layup, while Holman continued to assert herself inside with a tip-in midway through the period. Daniels closed the half with a strong finish and a free throw, helping the Trojans take firm control heading into halftime.