Hot Shooting Sparks Women's Hoops to 73-62 Victory over Southern Indiana

Morehead, Ky. -- Morehead State got a hot-shooting second half and pulled away with a 73-62 win over Southern Indiana Tuesday in Johnson Arena.
 
The victory guaranteed the Eagles a top-four finish in the Ohio Valley Conference standings and a bye into at least the quarterfinals of the OVC Tournament in Evansville.
 
Morehead State (18-12, 13-6 OVC) shot 63% from the floor in the second half and seven of 13 from three-point range (54%). The Eagles hit 10-13 (77%) from the free throw line in the fourth quarter.
 
"This was a huge win for us," said MSU head coach Ashton Feldhaus. "Southern Indiana put it on us the first time we played them (December 20). To come back out like we did tonight and competed, I'm super happy about that."
 
Sophomore Violet McNece led four Morehead State players in double figures with a career-high 23 points. McNece shot seven of 10 from the floor, including hitting five of seven from behind the arc. She also hit all four of her free throw attempts.
 
"Violet has been red-hot the last few games," said Feldhaus. "We're gonna ride that the rest of the way.
 
Laura Toffali finished with 15 points. Josefine Enander added 12 points, all in the second half. Enander hit four of six from three-point range. Landon Forbes finished with 10 points.
 
Southern Indiana (19-9, 13-6 OVC) was led by Allie Saunders with 21 points. Chloe Gannon added 19 points.
 
Tied at 30-30 at the half, both teams came out of the intermission with hot shooting. USI hit nine of 15 from the floor; the Screaming Eagles pounded the ball in the paint. All 18 of their points in the period came from the lane, led by Chloe Gannon with 10 points in the frame.
 
Morehead State hit seven of its 10 shots from the floor including five of eight from three-point range. McNece went two of four from distance and Enander hit both of her treys in the quarter. The Eagles outscored USI 21-18 and led 51-48 heading into the final ten minutes.
 
Morehead State went on an eight-point run capped by two free throws by Landon Forbes to put the Eagles up 61-52 at the 7:17 mark. The Eagles lead expanded to 10 on a Marie Sepp free throw with 3:10 to play.
 
Southern Indiana cut the lead to four at 66-62 with 1:11 to go on a Saunders three-pointer. MSU hit seven of eight free throws to close out the game.
 
After trailing 14-11 at the end of the first period, the Eagles went on a 10-0 run capped by a pair of Toffali free throws at the 4:31 mark to go ahead 28-18. Aided by five MSU turnovers the rest of the half, USI outscored the Eagles 12-2 to close out the quarter.
 
Morehead State has a quick turnaround as they travel to Arkansas to face off with Little Rock Thursday. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. ET. The game can be heard on the Eagle Sports Network (flagship WIVY 96.3 FM) and can be watched on ESPN+.
 
NOTABLE
 

• Morehead State shot 52.4% (22-42) from the floor for the highest percentage in a home game this season. The Eagles were 12-25 (48.0%) from three-point range in the game, the highest percentage of the season. USI hit 41% (25-61) from the floor and five of 13 (38.5%) from distance.
• The Eagles were 17-21 (81.0%) from the free throw line. The Screaming Eagles hit seven of their 10 free throws.
• Morehead State outrebounded Southern Indiana 29-27.
• The Eagles committed 24 turnovers; USI had 18 miscues. Points off turnovers were even at 20-20.
• There were seven lead changes and four ties in the game.
• Morehead State held the lead for 27:05. USI led for 7:53.