CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - SIUE women's tennis battled with defending Ohio Valley Conference champion Southeast Missouri Saturday, falling 6-1.

"I'm proud of how we fought the entire day," said SIUE Head Coach Adam Albertsen. "We had some really tight matches that didn't go our way. We will learn from this and bounce back."

Two of the tightest matches came at No. 2 and No. 3 singles where the Cougars stormed back to win the second set but came up just short in the deciding third set.

Margaux Guibal Britt lost a tiebreaker in the third set at No. 2 singles to Trinity Calinescu 6-4, 3-6, 7-6. Jordan Schifano was edged in the third set at No. 3 singles by Juliette Talieu 6-3, 3-6, 7-5.

SIUE's Amelia Gorman ran her personal singles winning streak to seven with a 6-2, 6-1 triumph over Vivian Lai at No. 4 singles, accounting for the Cougars' point.

The Cougars will look to bounce back next week with a pair of matches, SIUE welcomes McKendree to Edwardsville for a 2:30 nonconference matchup Wednesday. OVC play will continue next Saturday in a 1 p.m. dual at Lindenwood.