Web Exclusive: Women's basketball falls to Eastern Kentucky
Aren Dow
Issue date: 1/21/10 Section: Sports
Playing away from the Vadalabene Center has been a struggle for the Cougars this year.
The Cougars (4-17) nearly climbed out of a 21-point hole at Richmond Wednesday, but ultimately fell short to Eastern Kentucky (9-9) 58-53.
Freshman Courtney Kenner scored a career-high 13 points, 10 in the second half, to lead the Cougars in scoring. Kenner had three steals to lead the defense as well.
"Courtney was a spark plug on both ends of the floor," Head Coach Amanda Levens said.
Senior Ashley Bey and Michaela Herrod were also in double figures for SIUE.
After a 25-7 run starting with 12 minutes left in the game, SIUE brought the gap to three points with 57 seconds remaining. However, SIUE could not convert on any of their three shots in the last minute.
While SIUE does not play an official conference schedule until next season, the Cougars are in the middle of a four-game stretch of Ohio Valley Conference teams. Two of the games are at home, and two are away, where Levens understands the difficulty of winning on the road.
"That's life at D-I basketball," Levens said. "We're just getting used to playing such a quality opponent."
The Cougars forced 23 turnovers, but being out-rebounded 46-30 hindered SIUE's chances of winning.
SIUE defeated Eastern Kentucky at home last year 54-44, but familiarity wasn't a factor considering only four players returned from last year.
The Cougars shot just 25.8 percent from the floor in the first half, including missing all eight attempted three pointers. The poor shooting put SIUE at a 36-23 disadvantage going into halftime.
SIUE returns to their home court at 7 p.m. Monday to take on the University of Tennessee at Martin.
The Cougars (4-17) nearly climbed out of a 21-point hole at Richmond Wednesday, but ultimately fell short to Eastern Kentucky (9-9) 58-53.
Freshman Courtney Kenner scored a career-high 13 points, 10 in the second half, to lead the Cougars in scoring. Kenner had three steals to lead the defense as well.
"Courtney was a spark plug on both ends of the floor," Head Coach Amanda Levens said.
Senior Ashley Bey and Michaela Herrod were also in double figures for SIUE.
After a 25-7 run starting with 12 minutes left in the game, SIUE brought the gap to three points with 57 seconds remaining. However, SIUE could not convert on any of their three shots in the last minute.
While SIUE does not play an official conference schedule until next season, the Cougars are in the middle of a four-game stretch of Ohio Valley Conference teams. Two of the games are at home, and two are away, where Levens understands the difficulty of winning on the road.
"That's life at D-I basketball," Levens said. "We're just getting used to playing such a quality opponent."
The Cougars forced 23 turnovers, but being out-rebounded 46-30 hindered SIUE's chances of winning.
SIUE defeated Eastern Kentucky at home last year 54-44, but familiarity wasn't a factor considering only four players returned from last year.
The Cougars shot just 25.8 percent from the floor in the first half, including missing all eight attempted three pointers. The poor shooting put SIUE at a 36-23 disadvantage going into halftime.
SIUE returns to their home court at 7 p.m. Monday to take on the University of Tennessee at Martin.
Be the first to comment on this story