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Photo Gallery (by Sandy King)
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - Southern Indiana hit key back-to-back 3-pointers early in the 4th quarter to give them some breathing room as they pulled away late to beat Eastern Illinois in the OVC Tournament semifinals on Friday at the Ford Center in Evansville, Ind.
USI won 69-54 as they ended Eastern Illinois 2024 season with a 15-18 record. USI moves on to the OVC Championship game with a 23-6 record.
USI led the entire game with EIU able to tie the game for the first time in the third quarter at 31-31 as they had an 11-0 run closing the second quarter on a 7-0 run and scoring the opening four points of the third quarter.
Miah Monahan scored the first basket and Charita "Tiny" Lewis tied the game 31-31 with 8:47 to play.
The teams would trade baskets with EIU again, tying the game on free throws by
Taris Thornton. Thornton finished with her second career double-double with ten points and eleven rebounds.
Senior
Emily Meidel tied the game one final time with 5:40 play in the third quarter with a put-back jumper. Meidel scored eleven points in her final collegiate game.
Southern Indiana led by five at the end of the third quarter. After the Panthers converted one of two at the foul line, USI hit back-to-back 3-pointers by Tori Handley and Meredith Raley to push the Eagles lead to double figures with 8:44 to play. EIU was able to get the lead down to nine points one time in the final eight minutes of the contest.
Madison Webb led USI with 18 points. Raley had 17 as four total Eagles scored in double figures.
Monahan led EIU with 15 points.Â
Macy McGlone pulled down nine rebounds but was held to just four points.Â