NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A career night from freshman Katie Hempen sparked the SIUE women's basketball team to an impressive 60-50 come-from-behind victory over Tennessee State Saturday night from Gentry Center.

The Cougars trailed by as many as 15 points late in the first half but used a 32-11 run over the final 13 minutes to pull off the win despite shooting only 17 of 61 (28 percent) from the floor.

Hempen scored 14 of her career-high 19 points in the second half, including going 8 for 10 from the free throw line to lead all scorers. It was the fourth time she has led the team in scoring coming off the bench.

"We were down big early, but showed great composure and were able to get a good defensive effort in the second half," said SIUE Head Coach Amanda Levens.

SIUE improved to 9-7 overall and 3-2 in the Ohio Valley Conference while Tennessee State dropped to 6-12 (2-4 OVC).

The Cougars looked sluggish early as the Lady Tigers held SIUE scoreless for the opening five minutes as they built a 10-0 lead to open the game.

Senior Melia Duncan got the Cougars on the board with a layup but Tennessee State increased its lead to 15-2 as SIUE started the game hitting just one of their first 17 shots.

The Lady Tigers built their largest lead of the game 26-11 after an 8-0 run with less than four minutes to play in the opening stanza.

SIUE went into the locker room trailing 31-17 shooting only 6 for 37 (16 percent) from the floor while Tennessee State was 11 for 31 (36 percent).

"I went in at halftime and stayed calm," said Levens. "I told them to believe. I knew the shots would start to fall and they did in the second half. The players responded well."

Jazmin Hill got the second half started in a positive fashion for the Cougars draining a three pointer from the left corner leading SIUE out of the break.

Courtney Kenner converted a three-point play the old-fashioned way amidst a 14-4 run for the Cougars over a span of six minutes to get them within one 43-42 with seven minutes to play. Kenner joined Hempen in double figures scoring 10 points.

Hempen gave the Cougars their first lead of the ballgame 46-45 with 5:37 to play after converting a pair of free throws.

Free throws proved to be a major factor behind the late charge as SIUE hit 23 of 32 from the charity stripe in the contest, both of which were a season high. The Lady Tigers connected on 12 of 19.

After a knock-down three in the corner by Kenner, Hempen hit a pull-up jumper from five feet extending the lead to 51-47.

The Cougars held the lead for the final five minutes closing out the game 60-50 behind a tremendous effort on the defensive end.

Michaela Herrod led SIUE with 12 of its season-high 50 rebounds while Raven Berry pulled down nine.

"We worked hard in the second half to secure first shot misses and it really showed," added Levens. "Raven and Michaela did a good a job of securing those rebounds down the stretch."

Rachel Allen was the only Tennessee State player to reach double figures scoring 10 points.

The road trip for SIUE will continue Monday with a 7 p.m. contest in Cape Girardeau, Mo., against Southeast Missouri.

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