The USI women’s basketball team came away with a homecoming win against Lewis University. It came back from a 10 point deficit at the half to come away with a victory, 72-62.
Going into the half, Ariel Barnes made two steals that changed the momentum of the game.
“This was our game,” senior guard/forward Kristin Raker said. “We kept positive no matter what happened, worked hard and kept at it.”
Freshmen forward/center Cayla Herbst scored six points early in the second half to shorten the 10 point deficit and gave them much needed momentum in the game.
“We were a lot stronger in this game than we have been in the past,” Herbst said. “In locker room, Coach told us it wasn’t over. We’ve been in situations like this game before. Everyone stepped up their game to get this win.”
Scoring a career high of 22 points, sophomore guard Stephanie Carpenter hit four 3-pointers, along with an additional four 3-pointers from Raker, to help capture the win.
“The team helped me feel confident in my shot so that made it easier to go up and take shots,” Carpenter said.
The victory brings its all-around record to 8-15 and its Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) record to 2-13. With the post season on the horizon, defeating Lewis keeps its aspirations alive.
“We just have to end the season with wins so we can get in the post season tournament,” Raker said. “We just got to keep working hard because it’s not over yet.”
The men’s basketball team also defeated Lewis University in a 70-63 victory which extends its record to 19-4 and 11-4 in the GLVC. Keeping the lead constantly throughout the match, at points Lewis narrowed its lead in its pursuit to overtake the lead.
“We got off to a good start, but at some points we slowed it down and didn’t do what we were supposed to do,” senior guard Isaac McClure said. “At the end of the day we stayed with our principles and stayed together to come out with the game.”
Junior guard Kenyon Smith made key steals that lead to break-a-ways that lead to points which kept the lead out of Lewis’ reach.
A big crowd outing at the homecoming game helped propel the men’s team to get the win.
“The fan carried us through the game against Lewis,” men’s basketball head coach Rodney Watson said. “They gave us the energy to go get the 40 rebounds and to get this win, and that’s a fact.”
The men’s and women’s last home game is this Thursday against conference rivals Bellarmine University.
Last month the men’s and women’s teams were both defeated by Bellarmine.
“It doesn’t get any easier from here,” senior guard Brandon Hogg. “We are going to end out the season with three top ranked teams, Bellarmine’s No. 1 in the nation. We owe Bellarmine one, a lot of teams haven’t step to the challenge in the league and we think we’re a team that is capable.”
The women face off against Bellarmine at 5:15 p.m., and the guys tip off at 7:30 p.m.