TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Indiana State University hit 29 free throws in an 86-68 victory over Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in women's basketball action Wednesday night from the Hulman Center.

"I was very pleased with our team's effort," said Head Coach Amanda Levens. "It came down to Indiana State making more free throws than we did, and converting second-chance points."

Indiana State started on a 9-3 lead to open the game by driving to the basket and getting to the free throw line. This caused foul trouble for the Cougars and forced Coach Levens to go to the bench earlier than anticipated.

"The foul trouble limited what we wanted to do offensively," added Levens. "I was pleased with the way our kids competed and tried to keep themselves in the game."

The fouls also put the Sycamores into the bonus just seven minutes into the contest where they would go on to convert 15 of 19 chances from the charity stripe in the first half.

After a jumper by Courtney Kenner, ISU scored the game's next seven points to increase its lead to 16-5. Back-to-back layups by Michaela Herrod put a stop to the Sycamores' run.

Brittany Schoen connected on a three-point basket to put ISU back ahead by double digits 21-11 but Madison Meade answered right back with a three of her own for SIUE.

The Cougars cut the deficit down to four 23-19 after another three-pointer by Meade but the Sycamores quickly increased their lead to 34-22 with a mix of inside and outside shooting.

Despite getting numerous second-chance opportunities with ten offensive rebounds in the opening stanza, the Cougars failed to convert inside shots needed to close the gap. SIUE ended the first half trailing 42-24.

Jazmin Hill got things started for the Cougars opening the second half hitting from downtown but Schoen countered with her third three-point basket of the game for the Sycamores. Shoen finished with 19 points shooting 5 of 6 from behind the arc.

ISU built a 61-38 lead following a 10-0 run with 12:22 remaining in the second half. The Cougars responded by scoring the next six points with baskets from Raven Berry, Hill, and Allyssa Decker.

SIUE would get within 15 after a late charge but the Sycamores closed out their non-conference schedule with an 86-68 win.

Three players for the Sycamores reached double figures as Taylor Whitley led all scorers with 20 points, while Schoen and Deja Mattox added 19 and 15 points, respectively.

Hill led SIUE for the second straight game with 18 points and Melia Duncan added 12 as both players hit a pair of three-pointers in the game.

"Jazmin is a fantastic player," said Levens. "She was able to shoot the ball pretty well tonight, and that was a bright spot for us."

Herrod finished with a game-high ten rebounds for the Cougars while Shannon Thomas matched her total for Indiana State.

The Cougars now 2-10 overall, dropped their sixth consecutive game of the season, and look to turn things around with a game at Murray State on Dec. 30.

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