EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. -- Amber Shelton (Edwardsville) came up big in the Great Lakes Valley Conference home opener for the Southern Illinois Univeristy Edwardsville women's basketball team.
         SIUE, now 4-1 overall and 1-0 GLVC, defeated the Knights 65-63. Once SIUE took 45 seconds into the first half, they never let it go. SIUE never trailed in the game.
         Not to be denied tonight, Shelton lit up the scoreboard with a 37-point and nine-rebound performance. With eight seconds to go, Shelton hit two free throws that ended up being the difference.
         Shelton raised her scoring average to 25.6 points per game.
         Whitney Sykes (Pontoon Beach) chipped in 12 points and six rebounds. She went 4-5 from the free throw line.
         Bellarmine, now 4-2 overall, was led by Denasha Mondy with 18 points.
         Next up, the Cougars take on Northern Kentucky. Game time is scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m. in the Vadalabene Center.
        
                  -siue-