SIUE Cougars (9-16, 5-9 OVC)
vs. Tennessee State Tigers (11-14, 6-8 OVC)
Thu., Feb. 17, 5:30 p.m. CT
Nashville, Tenn. (Gentry Center)

Video: ESPN+
Radio: WSIE 88.7 The Sound (Randy Moehlman)
Audio: SIUECougarNetwork.com
Live Stats: www.SIUECougars.com

All-Time Series: SIUE leads 13-3
First Meeting: Jan. 11, 2011
Result: W, 70-60 at Edwardsville, Ill.
Last Meeting: Jan. 27, 2022
Result: W, 79-72 at Edwardsville, Ill.
Current Series Streak: SIUE W8

OPENING TIP
• Gabby Nikitinaite was named the Ohio Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week for a fourth time Tuesday. She averaged 16.7 points per game last week against Eastern Illinois, UT Martin and Tennessee Tech.
• The field of eight for the OVC Tournament is set, and SIUE will be a part of it. The only thing left is to determine the Cougars' seed with four games left on the schedule.
• The OVC Tournament, which begins March 2 in Evansville, Indiana, will be a merit-based system whereas the No. 5 seed plays the No. 8 seed and the No. 6 seed plays the No. 7 seed in the opening round. On day two, the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds play the winners. Those winners move on to the semifinals against the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds.
• SIUE has lost its last three games by an average of 3.3 points per game.
• SIUE shot 70 percent (7-10) from three-point range against UT Martin. That's SIUE's best faring from three-point range since the Cougars shot better than 70 percent against Utah Valley on Dec. 3, 2016.
• SIUE is among the top 50 nationally in several statistical categories: Free Throw Attempts (12th), Steals (12th), Turnovers Forced (19th), Free Throws Made (20th), Steals Per Game (26th), Assists (29th) and Assists Per Game (48th). SIUE does not lead the OVC in any of those categories.
• Allie Troeckler now has 51 double-digit scoring games in her collegiate career after scoring 16 points Saturday against Tennessee Tech.
• Mikia Keith hit four three-pointers against Eastern Illinois Monday and has now hit four or more in a game four times.
• The Cougars have three double-digit, come-from-behind victories this season: SEMO (Jan. 15), Tennessee State (Jan. 27) and SEMO again (Jan. 29).