Feb. 4, 2010

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - Michaela Herrod turned in a breakout performance Thursday.

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville freshman scored a career-high 20 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in SIUE's 74-63 loss to Eastern Illinois at the Vadalabene Center.

Herrod led SIUE's offense against the Ohio Valley Conference's top women's basketball team. EIU, which has just one loss in OVC play, improved to 15-8 while SIUE fell to 6-18.

"Offensively, it was definitely her (Herrod's) best game. She had to with Ashley (Bey) and Raven (Berry) in trouble with fouls," said SIUE Coach Amanda Levens. "You could just see her confidence grow as the game went on. She was very patient on every catch and just took what the defense gave her."

The Cougars played toe-to-toe with the Panthers, which shot an impressive 56.5 percent from the field. EIU also benefitted from 20 of 27 free throws.

SIUE countered with eight three-pointers in the game, including three each from Courtney Kenner and Madison Meade. Kenner was the only other Cougar in double figures with 12 points. The Cougars shot 35.7 percent from the field and took 24 more shots that the Panthers.

Four players scored double digits for EIU. Ta'Kenya Nixon turned in a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Maggie Kloak pounded the paint for the Panthers with 21 points, shooting 6 of 9 from the field and 9 of 11 from the free throw line.

Dominique Sims added 12 points for the Panthers while Sydney Mitchell came off the bench for 11.

After EIU shot 65 percent in the first half and held only a six-point lead at halftime, the Cougars needed to get off to a good start in the second half pull even.

"I don't think we started the second half the way we need to," said Levens. The Panthers converted four straight free throws in the first minute and worked to a double-digit lead.

The Cougars grabbed 15 steals in the contest, including five from Bey. The Cougar senior continues to rank among the nation's best in steals. She needs seven more to become the seventh player in school history to record 200 career steals.

SIUE now makes the return trip to the University of Miami. The game is set for Sunday at 2 p.m. ET.

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