Ohio Valley Conference

EVANSVILLE, Ind. - Top-seeded Western Illinois used a dominant fourth quarter to erase a double-digit deficit and defeat No. 8 Southeast Missouri, 74-66, in the Ohio Valley Conference Women's Basketball Championship semifinals Friday afternoon at the Ford Center. 

After trailing for much of the afternoon, the Leathernecks erupted for 35 points in the final quarter, turning a seven-point deficit entering the period into an eight-point victory to move on to the conference championship game. 

Mallory Shetley led Western Illinois with a dominant performance, scoring 27 points on 12-of-17 shooting while adding five rebounds and two blocks. Addi Brownfield added 17 points, knocking down three three-pointers and going a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line. 

Mia Nicastro delivered a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds, while also dishing out four assists. Madison Davis chipped in eight points and five rebounds as the Leathernecks shot 50 percent from the field and an impressive 21-of-22 from the free-throw line in the win. 

Southeast Missouri controlled much of the first half and built a 35-22 halftime lead, later extending the advantage to as many as 16 points in the third quarter. The Leathernecks responded by steadily chipping away before exploding offensively in the fourth, shooting 10-of-13 from the field and 12-of-12 from the line in the final period. 

Western Illinois also found success in transition, holding a 22-5 advantage in fast-break points while scoring 36 points in the paint. 

#2 LINDENWOOD 82, #3 SOUTHERN INDIANA 79
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - The Lindenwood Women's Basketball team (25-7, 16-4 OVC) defeated Southern Indiana in the OVC Tournament Semifinal round on Friday afternoon by a final score of 82-79. Four different Lions scored in double figures offensively, and Lindenwood was led in scoring by Ellie Brueggemann who scored a team-high 22 points on 7-12 shooting from the floor. The Junior Guard from Owasso, OK tied her season-high in three pointers made with six in the victory over the Screaming Eagles, while Aleshia Jones added a season-high six steals on defense to help lead the Lions to their second straight OVC Championship game. 

In the first half, Southern Indiana shot the ball extremely well, shooting 66% from both the field and three point line. Despite the hot shooting, Lindenwood was able to respond by knocking down 56% from the floor and 52% from three as the Lions trailed by just four points at the break by a score of 50-46. Aleshia Jones scored six of LU's first 13 points as the Black and Gold maintained a two point lead with 6:11 left in the opening quarter. However, USI went on a 12-2 run over the next two minutes to grab an eight point lead and extended the lead out to 10 at the end of the first quarter of play by a score of 33-23. To start the second quarter, Ellie Brueggemann and Brooke Coffey combined for three early three pointers as Lindenwood cut into the Southern Indiana lead to make it 39-34 halfway through the second. Brueggemann and Valerie Norwood each knocked down a three pointer later in the quarter as the Lions were able to cut the lead to four at the break. Brueggemann led Lindenwood with 12 first half points on 4-5 shooting from beyond the arc, while Jones had 11 on 5-8 shooting. 

In the second half, Lindenwood held the Screaming Eagles to 29 points and outscored USI by seven. In the third quarter, Southern Indiana jumped out to a nine point lead three minutes into the second half, but Coffey stopped the momentum by burying a three pointer to cut the lead for USI down to 58-52 with 6:46 remaining in the third frame. Later in the quarter, Brueggemann knocked down her sixth three pointer of the game and second of the half followed by two free throws by Gracie Kelsey to trim the lead down to 61-57 with just over three minutes to go. Both teams ended the third quarter by knocking down free throws as the Lions trailed 65-60 with one quarter to go in the contest. 

The fourth quarter saw Lindenwood go on a 9-2 run to start the quarter behind four quick points from Aleshia Jones to give the Lions a 69-67 lead with 5:30 to go. After USI regained the lead on a three pointer, Jones buried a three pointer of her own the next trip down the floor which sparked a 10-4 run as Lindenwood went up by five points with just under two minutes to go. Ellie Brueggemann and Brooke Coffey converted on three of Lindenwood's final four free throw attempts to seal the victory for the Lions in the OVC semifinal round. 

Lindenwood outrebounded the Screaming Eagles 32-26 and were led in rebounding by Coffey who had nine, while Kelsey and Norwood each added five of their own.