FT. WAYNE, Ind. – A dominant second half led the SIUE women's basketball team to a season-opening victory on the road against IPFW Sunday afternoon.

The Cougars prevailed by a final score of 74-67 after finding themselves down by 10 at halftime.

"We can play when our backs are against the wall," Head Coach Paula Buscher said.  "We really stepped it up in the second half and I can't tell you how proud I am of our effort."

Senior Raven Berry started off the season with a double-double, leading SIUE with 23 points and 16 rebounds. 

Fellow senior Courtney Kenner added 11 points and a team-high five assists, while junior Valerie Finnin chipped in with 10 points of her own.

IPFW got off to a fast start and never trailed during the first half.  They closed the first half with a 9-2 run to take a 39-29 lead into halftime.

But the Cougars flipped the script in the second half, and Berry was at the center of the comeback.

The visitors slowly climbed back into the game in the early stages of the second half before a Berry jumper gave SIUE a 51-50 lead with 10:53 to play in regulation.

The two teams traded the lead over the next minute and a half, but two more baskets in quick succession from Berry handed the Cougars a lead they would never give back.

"(Raven) is scoring with people hanging on her and double-teaming her," Buscher said.  "She's playing an awful lot of minutes and she's been great."

SIUE shot 49 percent from the field and were 4-7 from three-point range.  Rebounds were just about even, with the Cougars holding a 39-37 advantage on the boards.

IPFW was led by Amanda Hyde, who contributed 14 points, six assists, and five rebounds.

The Cougars will hit the road again later this week, as they travel to Chicago, Ill. to face UIC Thursday night.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

"It's now a matter of the players getting their energy and focus where it needs to be," Buscher added.  "I'm just so proud of them for their second half effort today."