The Truman State women picked up their biggest win of the season with a 73-67 win at Southern Indiana to avenge an earlier season loss to the Screaming Eagles and move to 11-2 on the season.
Hannah Belanger scored 26 points with nine rebounds and three assists while Katey Klucking added 20 points with nine boards in 40 minutes of play to lead the Bulldogs in the gritty win.
Truman got off to another strong start leading by 10 in the first quarter aided by early fouls called against USI. The Bulldogs were in the bonus in the first quarter just two and a half minutes into the game.
The Screaming Eagles bounced back in part to the free throw struggles by the Bulldogs. Truman missed all five freebies in the second quarter and USI led 36-33 at the break. Truman, in the first half was only 5-of-15 from the stripe.
USI led by one after three, 51-50.
Truman went on a 7-0 run midway through the fourth with Belanger connecting from three and a bucket from Maya Mouton to take a 61-58 advantage.
The Bulldogs led 67-60 with a minute to go but USI got a four-point possession to cut the lead down to three and after Belanger converted from the line again, a conventional three-point play by Emma DeHart made it 69-67 with just under 30 ticks showing.
After Belanger made one of two free throws, Katey Klucking intercepted a pass which forced USI to foul again. Klucking made it a two-possession game with 18 seconds to go and an errant three-pointer by USI was the final gasp by the home team.
Truman got to the line 37 times on the afternoon and 18 times in the fourth quarter, where they converted for 14 points. For the game, Truman was 21-of-37 (56.8%).
Belanger now has three straight games of 25 points or better and she also set a new single-game high with nine rebounds. She was 8-of-16 with two threes and 8-of-10 at the line in 36 minutes.
Katie Jaseckas added 12 points and six rebounds, Allison Thomas had seven points and Mouton scored five with seven rebounds and three blocks in her most action of the season at 24 minutes, including all of the fourth quarter and 16 of the 20 second half minutes.
Southern Indiana saw their five-game winning streak snapped and were led by Hannah Haithcock with 22 points. The Screaming Eagles went 0-of-9 from three in the second half and were outrebounded by the Bulldogs for the game 47-33.
Truman will look to match their program-best eight-game winning streak when they take the floor next. The Bulldogs are scheduled to host the University of Indianapolis on Thursday night in Pershing Arena. Truman won eight straight games back during the 2014 season to set the school record.
Truman won at Indianapolis back on November 29th, 76-68.