Box Score
The Kentucky Wesleyan women's basketball team looked to make it three straight wins over rival Southern Indiana on Tuesday evening, after beating the Screaming Eagles in both games last season, but the Panthers were unable to come up with the victory falling 83-64.
KWC drops its first game of the season to move to 3-1 overall.
Neither team was able to get on the board until the 18:26 mark when Southern Indiana hit a three pointer. The Screaming Eagles went ahead 12-0 following a three with 15:23 remaining. Â
KWC stopped the USI run following a steal by freshman
Jennifer Walker-Crawford and a three by senior
Kourtney Rhoads with just under 15 minutes remaining in the game.
USI scored the next 12 points before the Panthers snapped the run on a layup by Ko. Rhoads to put the score at 24-5 with 11:29 to go in the half.
The Panthers pulled within 15 of USI after junior
Jordanne Gambill hit one of two free throws to make it a 31-16 game with less than eight minutes remaining in the first half. Less than two minutes later Walker-Crawford put the score at 34-21 on a layup and a made free throw attempt following the foul on the basket.
KWC would only get within 13 points of the Screaming Eagles during the remaining 5:53 and went into the break down 47-31.
The Panthers shot 36% from the field, 20% from three point range and 56% from the free throw line. USI converted on 45% of its shots from the field, they hit 6-of-13 three pointers and made 87% from the stripe. Southern Indiana had the 23-17 advantage in rebounding during the first half of action.
Freshman
Erin Dorn had a team high seven points at the half and senior
T'Essence Phelps grabbed six boards.
Ko. Rhoads hit the opening basket of the second half 33 seconds in, knocking down a jumper to put the score at 47-33. She pulled the Panthers within 12 points of USI at the 17:24 on another jumper to make it a 49-37 game.
KWC was unable to get any closer to the Screaming Eagles during the remainder of the game. USI built a 24 point lead, before the Panthers closed out the game with an 8-3 run to put the final score at 83-64.
Dorn scored a career high 13 points on the night, while Phelps posted 10 rebounds. Senior
Shelbi Tyra and classmate
Karly Rhoads each had three steals for KWC.
The Panthers hit 33% of their shots from the field and 62% of their three point attempts.
USI made 42% of its shots from the field and connected on 76% of its shots from beyond the arch. The Screaming Eagles had the 48-40 edge on the boards.
KWC returns to action after the Thanksgiving holiday, playing McKendree on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. in Lebanon, Ill.
