EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – SIUE women's basketball recorded its first Ohio Valley Conference victory of the season Saturday with a 64-57 triumph over Murray State at First Community Arena.

The Cougars improved to 4-4 overall and 1-2 in the OVC with the win. Murray State holds an identical record at 4-4 and 1-2.

SIUE locked down the defense by holding the Racers to 27.9 percent shooting from the field (17-61). Murray State was just 2 of 24 from three-point range.

"I kept challenging our group," said SIUE Head Coach Paula Buscher. "Defense is a mentality. Either you are going to dictate defensively or you are going to sit back and let teams do what they want."

Murray State led by five points early in the contest but SIUE pushed back and took its first overall lead with 7:28 left in the second period on a layup by Ajulu Thatha.

The Racers were down by as many as seven in the second period and pulled to within one with 1:13 to play before halftime.

That's when SIUE went on an 8-0 run with back-to-back three-pointers from Tori Handley and Sara Majorosova as well as another bucket with two seconds left from Majorosova.

"When we hit two in row like that, it really helps us a lot (going into halftime)," said Handley, who was SIUE's leading scorer with 14 points.

Kelsie Williams scored her first double-digit offensive game with her first start of the season. Her 10-point effort was a big part of SIUE's 46 points in the paint.

"My teammates really believed in me," said Williams. "With that type of support behind me there was no other way to be successful."

Buscher didn't let her players get two comfortable after halftime despite the 34-25 lead.

"They responded to that," added Buscher. SIUE continued to maintain a solid lead, posting a 50-38 edge after three quarters.

"What I really liked about it is that our team worked well together, making some in-game adjustments," said Buscher.

SIUE shot 46.7 percent for the game (28-60). Ajulu Thatha had seven rebounds as SIUE edged Murray State in the rebound race 41-40.

Macey Turley led the charge for Murray State with 18 points while Katelyn Young added 13.

SIUE returns to action Monday with a 1 p.m. home game against Eastern Illinois.