February 07, 2008

Eagles break slide in historic fashion

at Southern Indiana (8-12, 3-9 GLVC): 72
Saint Joseph's (1-18, 0-12 GLVC): 24
Box Score

EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team held Saint Joseph's College to just 16.0 percent shooting as it broke a six-game losing streak with a 72-24 victory Thursday evening at the Physical Activities Center.

USI's (8-12, 3-9 GLVC) defensive effort was its most dominating performance since holding St. Mary's to just 18 points in the 1978-79 campaign. It also marked the sixth time in the program's history and the first since 1978-79 that the Screaming Eagles have held an opponent to less than 30 points.

Saint Joseph's (1-18, 0-12 GLVC) 24 points also ties the third lowest tally by a USI opponent in the program's history.

The Eagles, who trailed 2-0 early in the game, used a 20-2 run to take a 20-4 advantage with less than nine minutes to play in the opening period. USI held the Pumas to just three field goals in the first half, eight for the game, as it forged a 34-10 halftime edge.

USI, which out-rebounded the Pumas, 50-32, extended its lead to 31 points early in the second half and held Saint Joseph's to just four points throughout the final 12 minutes of the game.

Brittany Darden

Amie Newhart

Junior guard Brittany Darden (Guthrie, Kentucky) and freshman guard Amie Newhart (Mulberry, Indiana) led the Eagles offensively. Darden went 8-for-10 from the field, including 3-for-3 from three-point range, and finished with a game-high 19 point and four steals. Newhart drained four three-pointers and finished with 15 points to go along with a game-high six assists.

As a team, USI connected on a season-best 11 three pointers and was a perfect 9-for-9 from the charity stripe. Senior guard Marshay Jolly (Merrillville, Indiana) added a pair of three pointers to finish with 10 points in addition to a game and career-high tying eight rebounds.

Senior forward Jasmine Baines (Jeffersonville, Indiana) added eight points and eight rebounds, while junior forward/center Jessica Grimaldo (Carmi, Illinois) chipped in seven points and a season-high eight rebounds.

USI returns to action Saturday when it hosts the University of Indianapolis for homecoming at 1 p.m. Indianapolis (16-4, 8-4 GLVC), which is under the direction of former USI All-American and Assistant Coach LeAnn Freeland, lost to Kentucky Wesleyan, 60-59, Thursday evening in Owensboro, Kentucky.

Freeland will be inducted into the USI Athletic Hall of Fame Friday evening and will be honored during the men's game Saturday.

Dan McDonnell,
USI Sports Information