LAWRENCE, Kan. - The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville women's basketball team allowed a season-high in points to Kansas University on the road at Allen Fieldhouse and fell 91-52.

The Cougars dropped to 2-9 on the season while Kansas improved to 10-1 and a perfect 8-0 at home.

"This gives our players a feel of what we need to do to get where we are trying to go," said SIUE Head Coach Amanda Levens.

Kansas jumped out to an early 14-4 lead by making six of its first eight shots. Monica Engelman scored nine of her game-high 20 points during the early stages of the contest. Engelman finished 9 for 12 from the floor playing only 25 minutes.

SIUE's Madison Meade banked home a three-pointer for the Cougars to end a 10-0 scoring run by the Jayhawks.

Behind another 14-4 run, Kansas increased its lead to 38-15 by controlling play in the post. The Jayhawks took advantage of their height advantage and outscored the Cougars 46-10 in the paint for the contest.

SIUE held an 11-8 margin in offensive rebounds but could not convert those into any second-chance points. Kansas finished the game with a 44-29 rebounding advantage.

Jazmin Hill continued her strong play this season scoring 10 of the 21 SIUE points in the opening stanza as the Cougars found themselves behind 48-21 at the break.

Hill led SIUE in the game with 19 points on 8 of 17 shooting and hit two three-point baskets.

In the second half, the hot-shooting Jayhawks continued to score with a strong inside presence and did not miss many opportunities.

A team that entered the day ranked fifth in the nation in field goal percentage (49.5 percent), Kansas only improved their numbers by converting 36 of 57 shots for 63.2 percent from the floor.

Meanwhile the Cougars shot just below their season average (34.3 percent) connecting on 22 of 67 attempts for 32.8 percent.

"We knew we had to shoot for a high percentage from the floor, and didn't," said Levens. "We did not do a good job finishing and missed some good chances in the paint."

Freshman Valerie Finnin chipped in a career-high nine points off the bench for SIUE while Sydney Stahlberg and Melia Duncan added seven points each. Stahlberg also turned in a game-high 10 rebounds.

"Valerie has been our most consistent worker in practice," added Levens. "It was a matter of time before she got an opportunity. We like her ability to knock down open shots."

For the first time in her Cougar career, Raven Berry was held scoreless after sitting most of the game in foul trouble.

Up next for SIUE is a road contest at Indiana State on Dec. 22 at 7 p.m.

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