OWENSBORO, Ky. - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville survived 23 lead changes Saturday to edge Kentucky Wesleyan 91-87 in double overtime.
         The Cougars used the victory to even their Great Lakes Valley Conference record to 6-6 with an overall record of 10-9. Kentucky Wesleyan falls to 5-14, 2-10.
         SIUE finished with five players in double figures. Ruth Kipping led SIUE with 22 points and 11 rebounds. She was followed by Liz DeShasier with 21, Megan Grizzle with 13, Sarah Schweers with 12 and Amber Wisdom with 10.
         The Cougars had a number of chances to put the game away in regulation and in overtime. SIUe struggled from the free throw line in regulation, hitting just 12 of 21 shots. The Cougars rectified that in overtime by hitting 12 of 14.
         The final seconds in regulation met with some drama. With a 70-69 lead with 90 secobds left, Kentucky Wesleyan's Lydia Purvis stole the ball and connected on a three-pointer. SIUE answered seconds later on a jumper by Kipping. After a three missed shots and three timeouts, the game was tied 72-72.
         SIUE led in the first overtime period behind six free throws from DeShasier and a jumper by Kipping. It was Kipping, however, who ended up with her fifth foul with seven seconds left in overtime as Megan Morton tied the game 80-80 with a pair of free throws.
         Grizzle hit a jumper with 1:42 left in double overtime which proved to be the eventual winning basket. The Cougars sealed the victory with two more free throws as the Panthers missed their final four shots from the field.
         The Cougars now return to the Vadalabene Center on Thursday for a 5:30 p.m. meeting with first-place Northern Kentucky.
                  -siue cougars-