MACOMB, Ill. -- Southern Illinois University Edwardsville women's basketball coach Wendy Hedberg returned to her alma mater Wednesday and nearly pulled off an exhibition game upset at Western Illinois.
         Despite nine three-pointers and a better field goal percentage, the Westerwinds edged the Cougars 70-68.
         Western Illinois won the game from the free throw line, hitting 21 of 30 shots. SIUE was 9 of 20 from the free throw line.
         Amber Shelton led SIUE with 15 points, seven rebounds and four steals. The transfer from Illinois State took charge of the game, also sharing top honors in assists with Julie Sweetin.
         SIUE led by as many as six points in the second half after being down 32-30 at halftime. DeeDee Murphy led the Westerwinds with 19 points. Sarah Miller and Stephanie Lovingood added 14 and 11 points, respectively.
         Allison Fogle hit four three-pointers for SIUE, accounting for her 12 points. Elyse Morris, an SIUE transfer from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, added 10 points for SIUE.
         SIUE returns to the court next Wednesday in its final exhibition, a 7 p.m. contest at Indiana State.
                  -siue cougars-