USI Women's Basketball clinches OVC Tournament spot with rout of SEMO

The Screaming Eagles secured a postseason berth with a dominant 90-57 victory on the road.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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The University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team clinched a spot in the 2026 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament with a convincing 90-57 road win over Southeast Missouri State University on Saturday. USI shot a season-best 53% from the field and 58% from three-point range, while outrebounding SEMO 37-22 and forcing 25 turnovers. Three Eagles scored in double figures, led by senior guard Ali Saunders' 19 points.

Why it matters

The victory marks the third consecutive OVC Tournament appearance for USI, solidifying the program's status as a contender in the conference. The Screaming Eagles moved into a tie for second place in the OVC standings, just one game behind the leader, with this dominant road performance.

The details

USI jumped out to a 25-9 lead after the first quarter and extended its advantage to as many as 30 points in the second half. The Screaming Eagles' balanced scoring attack and stifling defense proved too much for SEMO, which shot just 40% from the field and under 23% from three-point range. USI's junior forwards Chloe Gannon and Amiyah Buchanan played key roles, with Gannon scoring 16 points and Buchanan recording a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

  • On Saturday, USI secured its spot in the 2026 OVC Tournament.

The players

Ali Saunders

A senior guard for the University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team, who scored a team-high 19 points in the win over SEMO.

Chloe Gannon

A junior forward for the University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team, who scored 16 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in the victory.

Amiyah Buchanan

A junior forward for the University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team, who recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds against her former program, SEMO.

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What’s next

The Screaming Eagles will return home to Liberty Arena on Thursday to host Tennessee State University in their final regular-season home game.

The takeaway

USI's dominant performance on the road against SEMO showcases the depth and talent of the Screaming Eagles' roster, as they continue to solidify their status as a top contender in the OVC and secure their third consecutive tournament berth.