EVANSVILLE, Ind. (Interstat) — The Southern Indiana women’s basketball team used a dominant first half to set the tone and never looked back, defeating Arkansas-Little Rock 57-40 in a nonconference game Thursday night at the Physical Activities Center.

The Screaming Eagles (7-2) seized control early, opening the game on a 20-6 run and holding the Trojans (4-7) to just six points in the second quarter. That defensive effort resulted in a 35-21 halftime advantage that proved insurmountable for a struggling Arkansas-Little Rock offense.

Southern Indiana’s Ali Saunders, a guard from Depauw, Indiana, led all scorers with 15 points, adding three assists and a block in 34 minutes. Her backcourt mate, Sophia Loden of Mascoutah, Illinois, contributed 10 points. The Screaming Eagles’ interior presence was bolstered by 6-foot-4 forward Channah Gannon of Manchester, Tennessee, who scored 11 points and grabbed multiple offensive rebounds in just 17 minutes of action.

The most pivotal stretch of the game occurred late in the first quarter and throughout the second, as Southern Indiana transformed a modest lead into a commanding one. After Arkansas-Little Rock’s Jordan Holman hit a three-pointer to pull the Trojans within 9-6 with 7:49 left in the opening period, the Screaming Eagles clamped down. They closed the first quarter on an 11-2 run, capped by two Ali Saunders free throws with one second remaining, to take a 20-15 lead.

The defensive pressure intensified in the second quarter, where Southern Indiana held the Trojans to a single field goal—a layup by Mya Cotto at the 8-minute mark—over the first seven minutes. During that span, the Screaming Eagles forced six Arkansas-Little Rock turnovers and extended their lead to 32-17 following a Saunders three-pointer. The Trojans shot a frigid 2-of-13 from the floor in the quarter, allowing Southern Indiana to cruise into halftime with a 14-point cushion.

Arkansas-Little Rock, which entered the game having won two of its last three, showed brief signs of life in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to 11 points on two occasions. However, each mini-run was answered by the Screaming Eagles, often by Loden or Gannon. The Trojans could not sustain any offensive rhythm, failing to score more than 11 points in any quarter.

Holman, a guard from Hugo, Oklahoma, led the Trojans with 12 points, three assists and two blocks in 36 minutes. Forward Naomi Smitherman of Birmingham, Alabama, provided a first-half spark off the bench with six quick points, but no other Arkansas-Little Rock player scored more than six.

Southern Indiana’s depth was evident as nine players scored, with Lexi Sepulveda adding six points and Amiyah Buchanan and Alli Robertson each contributing key plays. The Screaming Eagles also won the battle on the boards and capitalized on 18 Arkansas-Little Rock turnovers.

The game was played in front of an announced crowd of 802. According to Interstat’s ELO system, Southern Indiana was projected with an 84.90 percent probability to win.

Southern Indiana looks to continue its strong start when it hosts Morehead State on Saturday. Arkansas-Little Rock returns home to face Hendrix on Monday.