MACOMB - Tanya Guell notched 11 points for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville as the Cougars fell 75-48 against Western Illinois in exhibition action at Western Hall on Monday night.
         Guell was 4 of 8 from the field with a pair of rebounds. "She (Tanya) did a real good job down on the low block for us," said SIUE coach Wendy Hedberg.
         The Westerwinds jumped out to a 16-0 lead 6:04 into the game, but the Cougars would step up the defense. SIUE outscored Western Illinois 24-16 for the next 10:48 of first half to cut the lead to 32-24. That was the closest the Cougars would come as Jessica Cook then scored eight points to spark a 12-2 Western run to end the half at 44-26.
         "I thought the kids responded well," said Hedberg. They could have folded, but they kept fighting."
         Cook finished the game with 16 points to lead the Westerwinds.
         SIUE had a good start to the second half by cutting the lead to 51-40 with 12:30 left in the second half, but a 24-8 run by Western closed out the Cougars.
         "All in all I was happy with our effort, said Hedberg. "We didn't quit out there."
         Lindy Carey scored in double figures for the second straight game with 10. Freshman guards Whitney Sykes and Amy Austin each had solid games. Sykes had nine points while Austin scored seven.
         "Both of those freshman are learning a lot in a hurry," said Hedberg.
         The Cougars were outrebounded 39-21, and they committed 21 turnovers in the contest. Western Illinois' 6-7 center Zane Teilane had a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
         The Cougars will be back in action as they end their exhibition part of the schedule on Friday night at Southeast Missouri State.
                  -siue cougars-