OVC TOURNAMENT PRESENTED BY TICKETSMARTER
#7 SIUE Cougars (12-17, 8-10 OVC)
vs. #6 UT Martin (12-17, 9-9 OVC)
Wed., Mar. 2, 3:30 p.m. CT
Evansville, Ind. (Ford Center)


Video: ESPN+ (Connor Onion, Helen Williams)
Radio: WSIE 88.7 The Sound (Randy Moehlman)
Audio: SIUECougarNetwork.com
Live Stats: SIUEStats.com

All-Time Series: UT Martin leads 22-9
First Meeting: Nov. 28, 1986
Result: L, 77-67 at Edwardsville, Ill.
Last Meeting: Feb. 10, 2022
Result: L, 67-62 at Edwardsville, Ill.
Current Series Streak: UT Martin W1

OPENING TIP
• This is SIUE's first Ohio Valley Conference Tournament appearance since the 2017-18 season when UT Martin edged SIUE 69-67 in the semifinals.
• Gabby Nikitinaite was selected to the All-OVC first team and the All-Newcomer team. She was selected as the OVC Newcomer of the Week six times and once as the Player of the Week.
• SIUE set a program record for weekly OVC awards in a season with 10. Nikitinaite won seven awards while Prima Chellis (Player), Jaida Hampton (Newcomer) and Sofie Lowis (Freshman) each won one award.
• The outcome of the two previous meetings between UT Martin and SIUE were decided by an average of 4.5 points with the visiting team winning each contest. The benches proved to be the difference in both games (13-8 edge in SIUE win and 15-10 edge in UTM win).
• SIUE is No. 15 nationally in turnovers forced (20.76).
• Don't be surprised to a see a comeback. SIUE has four double-digit comebacks this season with two each against Southeast Missouri and Tennessee State.
• SIUE is No. 1 in the OVC and No. 4 nationally in free throw attempts (597). The Cougars have made 422 shots, which is just six less (428) that UT Martin attempted this season.
• The Cougars are 13th nationally in steals (304). Mikia Keith is ranked 67th nationally with 59 while Allie Troeckler is 116th nationally with 52.
• Nikitinaite and Mikayla Kinnard combine to be the leading scorer in 20 of 29 games this season. Kinnard set a career high with 29 points at Tennessee State.
• Both Nikitinaite and Troeckler became 1,000-point scorers in their careers this season.
• The Cougars are 33rd nationally in assists (435). Kinnard leads the team with 89. The team has four players with 50 or more this season.
• SIUE's nonconference season included wins over teams from the Big Ten (Illinois), Big East (Butler) and the Atlantic 10 (Saint Louis). It was SIUE's first-ever win over a Big Ten program.