EDWARDSVILLE, Il- SIUE women's basketball had four scorers in double figures but fell to University of Tennessee Martin 77-66 Thursday at First Community Arena.

SIUE fell to 5-19 overall and 2-13 in Ohio Valley Conference play. UT Martin improved to 11-15 on the year and 8-7 in the OVC.

SIUE hopped out to a quick 8-2 lead, but a 9-0 Skyhawk run gave UT Martin a three-point lead late in the first quarter.

Ava Stoller tied the game at 17 on a mid-range jump shot, but the Cougars trailed 20-18 after the first quarter.

UT Martin exploded to begin the second quarter; an Anaya Brown jump shot gave the Skyhawks an 11 point lead at the 7:44 minute mark.

The Cougars cut the deficit to four on an Ava Gugliuzza three-pointer but that's as close as it would get.

UT Martin controlled the second half and took its biggest lead of the game on a Kenley McCarn jumper which made it 77-59 with 2:55 left in the fourth quarter.

After missing the previous two games, Halle Smith led the Cougars off the bench in scoring with 14 points. The senior forward grabbed five rebounds, including four offensive, to go along with two assists.

Ava Stoller stuffed the stat sheet with 13 points, four rebounds, and four assists. It was her eighth game of the season scoring in double figures.

KK Rodriguez tallied 12 points to go along with two rebounds and four assists. Rodriguez scored in double figures for the fourth straight game.

Macy Silvey scored 11 points connecting on three three-pointers. Silvey added two rebounds as well as an assist.

SIUE connected on 45 percent (25-55) of its shot from the field including 9-23 (39 percent from behind the three-point arc.

UT Martin was led by redshirt sophomore Kenley McCarn who scored 21 points and added three rebounds and an assist.

The Skyhawks shot 29-67 (43 percent) from the field. UT Martin finished 10-24 (43 percent) from three-point range.

The Cougars and Skyhawks each grabbed 36 rebounds.

The Skyhawks capitalized on the 17 Cougar turnovers and turned them in to 20 points.

SIUE scored eight points on eight Skyhawk turnovers.

The Cougars return to action Saturday when it welcomes Tennessee State to First Community Arena. The tip is scheduled for 3:30p.m.