RICHMOND, Ky. – SIUE women's basketball handed Eastern Kentucky its first home loss of the season Saturday with a 73-69 overtime triumph at McBrayer Arena.

SIUE hit 10 free throws in the final minute of overtime in sealing the victory. The Cougars improved their season record to 7-7 overall and 1-1 in Ohio Valley Conference play.

"We made just enough free throws down the stretch to win the game," said SIUE Head Coach Paula Buscher.

Four SIUE players scored in double figures. Tierney Austin matched her career high with 18 points. Raven Berry picked up 15 points, seven rebounds, and four steals. CoCo Moore scored 14 points for her fifth consecutive game in double figures. Point guard Courtney Kenner added 12 with all seven of her free throws made coming in overtime.

Buscher also pointed to senior Michaela Herrod who finished with nine points and a team-high nine rebounds.

"Michaela saved us in some really tight situations. She made them change what they were doing offensively," said Buscher.

Saturday's win was an important for the Cougars, noted Buscher. It was SIUE's first win in OVC play this season as well as its first road OVC victory.

"I don't think people realize how good they (EKU) are at home," said Buscher. The Colonels fell to 7-6 overall and 1-1 in OVC action. EKU is now 6-1 on its home court.

SIUE, which snapped a three-game losing skid, found itself down by as much as nine points in the first half. A 9-0 run toward the end of the first half gave SIUE a tie before EKU's Marie Carpenter put the Colonels ahead with a jumper with 17 seconds left. EKU led 34-32 at halftime.

EKU also had four players scoring in double figures led by 18 from Jade Barber.

Brittany Coles finished with 16. Her layup with four seconds left in regulation sent the game into overtime tied 57-57. Raechele Gray and Marie Carpenter added 13 and 10 points, respectively.

In overtime, neither SIUE nor EKU seized the immediate opportunity to take control of the game.

It wasn't until Austin completed the three-point play on a basket and a free throw with 3:40 to play that the momentum moved to SIUE.

EKU decided to send SIUE to the free throw line for the rest of the period, allowing SIUE just one more field goal attempt and often picking up fouls within seconds of inbounding the ball.

The Colonels missed their first five shots of the overtime period from the field before Gray hit a jumper with 50 seconds left. Carpenter made a three-pointer with 19 seconds left, but by that point SIUE had amassed an insurmountable lead.

Buscher said the Cougars did a job of defending against the Colonels. SIUE forced 29 Eastern Kentucky turnovers, a season-best for the Cougars.

The Cougars also picked up 20 steals, the most since SIUE set its school record with 23 against UW Milwaukee in 2008. Six different SIUE players had at least two steals, including six by Austin.

SIUE closes out its road trip Monday with a 6 p.m. CT game at Morehead State.