USI Screaming Eagles | Women's Basketball

February 02, 2008

Eagles suffer sixth-straight setback

at Rockhurst (7-12, 2-9 GLVC): 61
Southern Indiana (7-12, 2-9 GLVC): 56
Box Score

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—Rockhurst University hit three three-pointers in the final seven minutes of the game, including one in the final minute, to hand the University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team its sixth straight setback, 61-56, Saturday afternoon.

USI (7-12, 2-9 GLVC) took a brief one-point lead late in the game, but the Hawks got a go-ahead three-pointer by senior guard Chelsea Barnett, to take a 58-56 lead with 46 seconds left in the contest.

The Screaming Eagles, who out-shot the opposition for the fifth time during the losing streak, had two turnovers in their final three possessions, allowing the Hawks to clinch the game at the free throw line.

In the first half, the Eagles trailed 15-10 before using a 10-3 run to end the half and go into the break with the 29-23 advantage. They came out of the intermission to score five straight points and build their largest advantage of the contest (34-23) less than a minute into the final period.

Rockhurst (7-12, 2-9 GLVC) answered with a 5-0 run to close the gap to six before using an 8-0 run later in the half to forge a 41-40 lead with less than 13 minutes remaining in the game.

Freshman guard Lauren Meneghetti (Munster, Indiana) ended a four-minute field goal drought for the Eagles when she connected on a long-range shot to give the Eagles a 44-43 lead. The three-pointer was the first points in a 9-0 run that saw the Eagles turn a two-point deficit into a 50-43 lead with less than eight minutes to play.

The Hawks, however, battled back with a jumper by junior guard/forward Amy Hake, a three-pointer by sophomore guard Ali Fromm, and another three-pointer by Hake. The 8-0 run gave the Hawk's a 51-50 lead heading into the final five minutes of the contest.
VaNita Smart

USI, which was held to less than 10 field goals in the second half, tied the contest at 53 with just over two minutes to play on the strength of sophomore guard VaNita Smart's (Evansville, Indiana) free throws. Smart, who finished with 14 points, cut a 55-53 deficit in half with the first of a two-shot foul a few moments later.

Jasmine Baines

Smart, however, missed the second free throw attempt, but senior forward Jasmine Baines (Jeffersonville, Indiana) brought down the rebound to give the Eagles a chance to take the lead. Baines finished the contest with 15 points, a team-high tying nine rebounds, and a career and game-high five assists. She also moved into eighth-place all-time on USI's career scoring list (1,091).

Following the Baines rebound, freshman guard Amie Newhart (Mulberry, Indiana), who finished with 12 points and six rebounds, hit a jumper to give the Eagles a 56-55 lead with one minute left on the clock. The bucket was the Eagles' first field goal in nearly seven minutes.

After Barnett's fourth three-pointer of the game gave the Hawks the lead back, the Eagles could not get a shot off in their next two possessions while Hake converted 3-of-4 free throws to seal the win for the Hawks.

Hake led all scorers with 23 points to go along with nine rebounds. Barnett fi

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