LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Bellarmine used four players scoring in double figures to hold off Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 76-75 in overtime in women's Great Lakes Valley Conference basketball Thursday night.
         SIUE, 6-6 overall and 3-3 in the GLVC, picked up a 32-point effort from Ruth Kipping, who had scored just two points in the first half.
         The Cougars got off to a slow start against Bellarmine (11-2, 6-0 GLVC), falling behind 40-30 at halftime. Bellarmine's Nickie Randall and Stephanie Pieper finished with 18 points each while Lyndsey Neal and Audrey Cannon collected 14 and 11, respectively.
         SIUE relied on Kipping's offensive explosion. She hit a pair of free throws with 1:13 left in regulation to tie the score 66-66. Neither team was able to score in the final seconds, sending the game into overtime.
         Sarah Schweers gave SIUE its only lead in overtime on a pair of free throws just 17 seconds into overtime. Bellarmine countered with six straight points off baskets from Neal, Cannon and Pieper.
         The Cougars were down by four points with seven seconds left as Randall connected on two free throws.
         Kipping ended the game with a three-pointer at the buzzer.
         SIUE's next action is Saturday afternoon at 1 at Northern Kentucky. The Norse rallied back from 12 points down to defeat Lewis 80-67 on Thursday.
        
                  -siue cougars-