CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – SIUE women's basketball battled SEMO on Saturday but fell 64-56 after the Redhawks reclaimed the lead in the final three minutes of the fourth quarter.
 
SIUE is now 8-10 over all and 1-7 in Ohio Valley Conference play. SEMO improved to 8-10 overall and 1-7 in OVC play.
 
Going to the second quarter, the Cougars hit four of their last five field goals to trim the RedHawks lead. Back-to-back baskets made it a nine-point game with 7:32 remaining before halftime.
 
Jaiden Bryant came off the bench and scored on a layup to end a two-minute scoring drought for the Cougars with four minutes left in the second quarter.
 
Ava Gugliuzza finished the half with a layup in the paint off a SEMO turnover as the buzzer sounded, sending SIUE into halftime trailing 32-23.
 
The Cougars opened the fourth quarter on an 8-0 run. Gugliuzza had a layup to tie the game and followed with a free throw giving the SIUE its first lead of the context, 49-48, with 6:12 remaining.
 
SEMO answered with a seven-point run helping them reclaim their lead and seal the win, snapping its four-game losing streak.
 
Three Cougars had scores in double figures, led by Macy Silvey with 11. Kiyoko Proctor and Lauren Miller each added 10 points. Silvey made 3- of- 8 of her shots from the field, Proctor finished 4-of-10, and Miller went 3-of-9 from the floor while converting all four of her free throw attempts.
 
Syanne Mohammed led the team with 12 rebounds and contributed four points.
 
As a team the Cougars made 88.9 percent (8-9) of their shots from the free throw line and 38.5 percent (20-52) of their shots from the field. They also had 24 points in the paint, 16 points off turnovers and 21 points off the bench. While the RedHawks connected 46.8 percent (22-47) of their shots from the field and 65.2 percent (15-23) of their shots from the line.
 
Up next, SIUE returns to First Community Arena to take on Tennessee State Jan. 22 at 5 p.m.