EVANSVILLE, Ind.- Jamie Truitt scored 23 points Thursday night as the University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team defeated Northern Kentucky University, 93-66, at the PAC Arena.
Truitt made five three-point shots as Southern Indiana (14-6 overall, 8-6 Great Lakes Valley Conference) defeated NKU for the first time since 2002. The Screaming Eagles also shot 53 percent from the field and forced NKU into 22 turnovers.
NKU (13-6 overall, 8-5 GLVC) built an 18-10 lead early in the game, but Southern Indiana used a 21-4 run during the final 7:09 of the first half to take a 44-30 advantage at the break. Kennitra Johnson drained a 25-footer just before the halftime buzzer to give the Screaming Eagles a 14-point cushion.
Southern Indiana used a 22-10 spurt in the first nine minutes of the second half to build a 66-40 lead, and the Norse were unable to threaten again. Shajuan Lindsey scored nine of her 16 points in the second half for Southern Indiana.
Shannon Wells added 15 points for Southern Indiana, and Lauren Parrish finished with 14 points. The Screaming Eagles limited NKU to just 23.3 percent shooting from the field in the second half.
“We are just struggling now. Our starting five just didn't do anything for us,” said NKU head coach Nancy Winstel.
Connie Myers scored a game-high 27 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead NKU, which had beaten Southern Indiana four straight times going into Thursday's game. The Norse, however, shot just 31 percent from the field and allowed Southern Indiana to hit 12-of-19 three-point attempts.
“Connie Myers played with great heart, but we didn't have anyone who matched her intensity,” said Winstel.
Sharell Snardon added 12 points and seven rebounds for NKU. Betsey Clark came off the bench and scored eight points for the Norse, who are ranked No. 5 in the latest NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region poll.
NKU will visit the University of Missouri-St. Louis at 2 p.m. Saturday.
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Connie Myers |