EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Freshman Kiyoko Proctor recorded her third consecutive 20-point performance, with 24 points on 9-21shooting and going 5-11 from three-point range. Despite her effort, SIUE fell to Western Illinois 79-62.
 
SIUE is now 14-15 overall and 7-12 in the Ohio Valley conference. Western Illinois improved to 24-4 overall and 16-3 in conference play.
 
Macy Silvey followed with 11 points on 4-12 shooting and added five rebounds. Lauren Miller also reached double figures with 10 points and had four rebounds. Syanne Mohamed led the team with 12 rebounds.
 
Proctor opened the scoring for the 66ers with a layup in the first quarter and quickly added a three-pointer. After a three-and-a-half minute scoring drought, she knocked down another triple to keep SIUE in the game.
 
The 66ers hit another dry spell before Silvey came up with a steal and converted a fast-break layup with 2:21 remaining in the opening quarter to cut the deficit to 13-10. WIU's Addi Brownfield answered with a buzzer-beating three-pointer to send the Leather necks into the second quarter with a 10-point advantage.
 
Five minutes into the second, the Leathernecks used a 7-0 run to extend their lead to 33-13. Miller halted the run with a jumper at the 3:07 mark, sparking a brief WIU drought. Proctor capped an 8-0 SIUE run with her third three-pointer of the night, trimming the deficit to 12 in the closing seconds of the half. However, Mia Nicastro connected on a late jumper to give the Leathernecks a 35-21 lead at the break.
 
SIUE responded with 23 points in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to 11 after hitting five straight field goals with 1:30 to play. Proctor, Miller and Silvey each knocked down a three-pointer in the frame to keep the Cougars within reach. After Madison Davis scored with 27 seconds remaining for WIU, Proctor answered with a buzzer-beating basket to make it 55-44 heading into the final quarter.

The Leathernecks opened the fourth on an 8-0 run and eventually stretched the margin to 24. Sy'rae Stemmons scored six points in the final two minutes to bring the score to its 79-61 final.
 
As a team, the Cougars shot 36 percent from the field, 34 percent from three-point range and 66 percent from the free-throw line while collecting 33 rebounds. WIU shot 55 percent from the floor, 35 percent from deep and 84 percent at the line, finishing with 32 boards.
 
Up next, SIUE will celebrate its seniors during the final home contest of the season as the Cougars host Eastern Illinois Panthers Saturday at 1:00 p.m.