EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team lost a heart-breaker to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 81-75, in double overtime at the Physical Activities Center Thursday evening.

USI (14-10, 8-8 GLVC) scored the first four points in the second overtime, but saw the Cougars reel off 10 straight points to pull out the victory.

The Screaming Eagles, who overcame a four-point deficit with three minutes remaining in regulation, took a 62-59 advantage with less than 30 seconds to play when senior guard Katie Thiesenhusen (Muskego, Wisconsin) drained a three-pointer from the top of the key.

SIUE (19-6, 12-5 GLVC), however, hit a quick shot and got the ball back with 10 seconds to play in regulation trailing 63-61. The Cougars tied the contest when Allison Fogle hit a shot just inside the arc with two seconds remaining in the second half.

Junior guard Jasmine Baines (Jeffersonville, Indiana) turned the extra period into a show case as she scored six of USI's eight points in the first overtime period. Baines finished the contest with a game-high 22 points and 11 rebounds. She had a combined eight points in the two overtime periods.

Despite the performance, the Cougars had a chance to win the game in the final seconds of the first overtime. However, senior forward/center Sarah Buldtman (Metropolis, Illinois) deflected the shot of SIUE's Julie Sweetin to send the game into a second overtime with the score knotted at 71.

USI jumped out to a 75-71 lead early in the second overtime, but the Cougar's Amber Shelton scored six straight points to give SIUE a 77-75 edge with less than 40 seconds remaining in the contest. Shelton finished the game with 37 points and 10 rebounds.

The Eagles had a chance to tie the contest, but a missed lay up followed by a foul and pair of SIUE free throws put the contest out of reach for the Eagles.

In addition to Baines' double-double, USI also got a double-double out of Thiesenhusen, who finished the game with 18 points and a career-best 10 rebounds. Thiesenhusen scored 15 of her points from three-point range, where she was 5-of-11.

Senior forward Sabrina Brandon (Danville, Illinois) finished with 13 points and three rebounds before fouling out late in the first overtime period.

Whitney Sykes added 15 points and six rebounds for the Cougars, who lead the GLVC West Division by a half game over Drury University.

USI finishes its 2006-07 home slate Saturday when it hosts Quincy University (15-8, 8-8 GLVC) at the PAC. USI will honor its five seniors—Brandon, Buldtman, Thiesenhusen, guard/forward Michelle King (Columbus, Indiana), and guard Leah Stormont (Haubstadt, Indiana)—prior to the 1 p.m. tip off.