NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Looking for a season sweep over Tennessee State, the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville women's basketball team faced foul trouble all night in an 81-71 loss from the Gentry Center Tuesday night.

Raven Berry, Allyssa Decker, and Sydney Stahlberg all fouled out for SIUE during the contest. Melia Duncan also picked up four personal fouls as the Cougars were whistled for 26 fouls.

The loss drops SIUE to 7-15 on the season and 1-9 in games away from home, while the Tigers moved to 7-17 with the win.

"It comes down to making shots, and that had been our nemesis the past few games," said SIUE Head Coach Amanda Levens.

After the Cougars and Tigers traded baskets in the opening minutes, Tennessee State took a 14-4 lead behind a 10-0 run.

Decker collected an offensive rebound and scored on the put back to end the SIUE scoring drought.

The Cougars responded with a 6-0 run of their own to cut the deficit to two, 19-17.

SIUE eventually evened the game at 31-31 after sophomore Courtney Kenner drained a three-pointer. The Cougars tied the score three separate occasions, but never led in the first half.

That would quickly change when fellow sophomore Berry gave the Cougars their first lead of the game 33-31 with a layup to open the second half.

With a 37-35 lead, SIUE gave up the next five points and found Tennessee State ahead 40-37.

Duncan hit a three-pointer off the right wing to spark the Cougar offense at the midpoint of the second stanza. SIUE went on an 8-0 run hitting from both inside and outside the paint for a 47-42 advantage.

"We needed to put (Tennessee State) away right there," added Levens.

The Tigers answered back to retake a 48-47 lead as the teams battled back and forth. The lead changed eight times in the second half, before Tennessee State claimed a 72-60 lead following an 18-6 run.

In foul trouble throughout the game, SIUE was forced to turn to its bench more frequently in the second half.

"We could just never get into a flow with so much foul trouble," said Levens.

Tennessee State closed out the game down the stretch to pick up the 81-71 victory and even the season series between the two teams.

All nine players that saw court time for Coach Levens recorded a point in the game, led by Berry's 17. Berry finished 9 of 12 from the free throw line.

Decker added 16 points and Kenner chipped in 10 points off the Cougar bench. Michaela Herrod led SIUE with 11 rebounds.

"We did a great job getting the offensive rebounds, but little to show for it," added Levens.

SIUE finished with a season-high 21 offensive rebounds with only 16 second-chance points from those opportunities.

After being named Ohio Valley Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Week, Tennessee State's Tayla Foster set a season high with 33 points to lead all scorers. Foster added a team-high 11 rebounds for the double double.

Meredith Stafford (14), Alana Morris (11), and Destiney Gaston (10) all reached double-figure scoring for the Tigers.

The Cougars will return to Edwardsville, Ill., when they host IPFW at the Vadalabene Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

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