BIG RAPIDS, MICH. -- Ferris State held off Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the final seconds Tuesday in a 64-57 victory in women's college basketball.
         Ferris State outscored SIUE 8-1 in the final 75 seconds of the game to hand the Cougars their fourth consecutive loss. SIUE is now 5-4 overall while Ferris State improved to 5-4.
         SIUE had four players with 11 points each. Deidra Dace, Alisa Carrillo, Whitney Sykes and Amy Austin all scored double figures for the Cougars.
         Audrey Thwing led the Bulldogs with 17 points.
         SIUE was down 29-24 at halftime and battled back in the second half. SIUE and Ferris State tied eight times during the game, but the Bulldogs prevailed in the final seconds. Thwing scored a pair of layups. Katie Loosvelt added a jumper, and Rachel Folcik hit a pair of free throws with 12 seconds.
         The Cougars next face Lake Superior State at 1 p.m. Wednesday.
                  -siue cougars-