EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Women's basketball celebrated senior day with a 70-43 win over Eastern Illinois. 
 
The 27-point victory marks the third-largest margin of victory against an Ohio Valley Conference opponent in program history. With the win, the Cougars finish the regular season 15-15 overall and 8-12 in OVC play and advance to the OVC Tournament. The Panthers rounded off their season at 4-27 overall and 2-17 in conference play. 
 
Ava Gugliuzza started the scoring with a three-pointer before Kiyoko Proctor added a jumper and a fast break layup off a Macy Silvey steal. Lauren Miller and Silvey each contributed buckets as the Cougars surged ahead.
 
Eastern Illinois responded in the second, shooting 7-13 in the quarter and using a 14-2 run to erase a 15-point deficit. The Panthers tied the game at 27-27 late in the half before Silvey answered with a three-pointer. SIUE carried a 30-29 lead into the break.
 
The turning point came in the third quarter. After Eastern Illinois briefly took a 31-30 lead, SIUE responded with a decisive 21-2 run. Syanne Mohamed controlled the paint with second-chance points, Proctor added transition finished, and Gugliuzza connected from three as the Cougars stretched the margin to 51-33. SIUE held the Panthers to just 2-of-15 shooting in the quarter.
 
The Cougars continued to build the lead in the fourth, pushing it to as many as 30 before the 27-point victory.
 
For the game, SIUE shot 46.9 percent (30-of-64) and out rebounded Eastern Illinois 48-23, including 17 offensive boards. The Cougars turned 14 Panther turnovers into 21 points and added 14 fast break points.
 
Proctor led all scorers with 19 points and four assists. Miller added 13 points, Silvey scored 10, and Gugliuzza finished with nine points. Mohamed recorded eight points and a game-high 14 rebounds.
 
Saturday marked Senior Night for Mohamed, Adebukola Akomolafe, Silvey and Jaiden Bryant, who were honored prior to tip off. 
 
The Cougars are slated to take on UT Martin in the first round of the Ohio Valley Conference tournament on Wednesday March. 4 at 3 p.m.