EVANSVILLE, Ind. (Interstat) — Chloe Gannon scored 21 points and Ali Saunders added 14 points and seven assists to lead Southern Indiana to a 73-57 victory over Eastern Illinois in an Ohio Valley Conference women’s basketball game Thursday night at the Physical Activities Center.

The Screaming Eagles, improving to 14-4 overall, used a dominant third-quarter run to pull away from the Panthers, who fell to 3-17.

The game was a defensive struggle early, with both teams combining for more turnovers than made field goals in a disjointed first quarter. Southern Indiana emerged with a 15-7 lead after the opening period, but Eastern Illinois found its rhythm in the second. The Panthers, led by guard Nyah Hardy’s seven points off the bench in the frame, outscored the Screaming Eagles 15-13 over a stretch to close the gap to 33-22 at halftime.

The most important part of the game came immediately after the break, as Southern Indiana decisively seized control. The Screaming Eagles opened the third quarter on a 14-4 run, fueled by six points from Gannon and stifling defense that forced four Eastern Illinois turnovers in the first four minutes. That surge extended the lead to 47-26 and effectively put the game out of reach. Eastern Illinois never got closer than 15 points the rest of the way.

Southern Indiana maintained its offensive efficiency in the fourth quarter, scoring 20 points for the second consecutive period to secure the comfortable win. The Screaming Eagles’ defense was a constant, forcing 22 Panther turnovers and converting them into 23 points.

Gannon, a 6-foot-2 junior from Manchester, Tennessee, was efficient in her 35 minutes, adding three assists and a block. Saunders, a 5-10 guard from Depauw, Indiana, orchestrated the offense and contributed three steals. Sophia Loden provided a key spark off the bench for Southern Indiana, scoring all 12 of her points in the second half, including two crucial three-pointers during the fourth quarter to quell any fleeting Panther momentum.

Eastern Illinois was led by Sydney-James Desroches, who scored 14 points, grabbed five rebounds and recorded five blocks in a strong defensive effort. The 6-foot forward from Miami, Florida, was a persistent challenge for Southern Indiana drivers. Hardy finished with 12 points, all in the middle two quarters, while point guard Ava Stoller of St. Petersburg, Florida, managed nine points and six assists but also committed seven turnovers against Southern Indiana’s pressure.

The Screaming Eagles shot 44.6% from the field compared to the Panthers’ 34.5%. Southern Indiana also held a significant advantage in points in the paint, outscoring Eastern Illinois 42-26.

Southern Indiana, which entered the game with a 92.8% win probability according to Interstat’s ELO system, solidified its position near the top of the OVC standings. Eastern Illinois, meanwhile, continued to search for consistency in a season marked by narrow defeats, having lost five games by single digits.

An announced crowd of 971 watched the contest.

Southern Indiana looks to continue its success when it hosts Western Illinois on Saturday. Eastern Illinois travels to face Morehead State, also on Saturday.