EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.—Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's junior guard/forward Amber Shelton scored 32 points to lead the host Cougars to a 96-62 victory over the University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team Thursday evening at the Vadalabene Center.

USI (11-3, 5-1 GLVC) struggled to get anything going early in the contest as the Cougars raced out to a 15-2 advantage in the first four minutes of the game. SIUE (12-2, 6-1 GLVC) shot 52.9 percent from the floor in the opening half as it went into the break with a 54-29 halftime advantage.

The Eagles' defensive efforts did not fare much better in the second period as the Cougars shot 55.2 percent from the floor and extended their lead to as many as 38 points with less than four minutes to play in the game.

Senior forward Sabrina Brandon (Danville, Illinois) led the Eagles, who shot a respectable 42.9 percent from the floor, with 14 points and six rebounds. Senior guard Katie Thiesenhusen (Muskego, Wisconsin) chipped in 10 points and a team-high seven assists, while senior forward/center Sarah Buldtman (Metropolis, Illinois) added a team-high seven rebounds.

Three other SIUE players joined Shelton in the double-figure scoring column for the Cougars with sophomore guard Allison Fogle adding 14 points and junior guard Whitney Sykes chipping in 13 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. Senior forward Julianne McMillen added 10 points and six rebounds.

USI, which falls a half game back of the Cougars for first place in the GLVC West Division, returns to action Saturday at 1 p.m. when it takes on Quincy University at the Pepsi Arena in Quincy, Illinois. Quincy (9-5, 3-4 GLVC) is coming off a 63-59 triumph over Kentucky Wesleyan College Thursday evening.