Dec. 2, 2009

Box Score

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - Raven Berry led four players in double figures Wednesday as Southern Illinois University Edwardsville downed UMKC 66-55 in women's college basketball.

Berry scored a game-high 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds in 18 minutes played. She was in foul trouble during the first half, but turned on the offense with 14 points in the second half.

Melia Duncan connected on four three-pointers for the Cougars and finished with 16 points. Ashley Bey scored 13 points and added four assists and four steals. Courtney Kenner scored 10, all on free throws.

"Towards the end of this game, they locked in and had so much confidence when they stepped up to the line to make their free throws," Levens said.

SIUE, now 2-6 overall, made 27 of 36 free throws for the game, taking advantage of 28 fouls from UMKC. That included two technical fouls late due to out-of-bounds plays. Kenner provided the points on the line.

Levens said UMKC runs numerous things on offense and defense. She shared a wealth of scouting information with her team coming into the game, and it paid off.

"They did a great job of executing the game plan," said SIUE Coach Amanda Levens. "They were very focused in practice. They zeroed in and took a lot away from UMKC."

Chazny Morris powered UMKC with 17 points. She was followed by 12 from Kaycie Boyles and 11 from Jade Tinner.

SIUE looked confident in the first half after going up by 12 points with 5:08 to play on a three-pointer by Danielle Bennett. The Kangaroos, 2-4, rallied for a 13-3 run to end the half with SIUE leading 26-24.

UMKC opened up the second half by taking the lead on a three-pointer by Sam Sikkink. Berry answered with a bucket in the paint. Berry's four consecutive free throws midway through the half put SIUE up by five. UMKC made it a one-possession game with 3:40 to play when Jade Tinner scored.

Duncan scored the final of her four three-pointers with 3:18 to play, putting the Cougars up by five. It was a lead UMKC would not threaten the rest of the game.

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