Lady Bearcats Win Season Opener
Southwest Baptist 76, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville 60

PITTSBURG, Kan. - The Lady Bearcats won their 2002-03 season opener on Friday, Nov. 22 over Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, 76-60, in the Ninth Annual Kitchen Pass Tipoff Classic in Pittsburg, Kan.

Despite building a 13-4 lead in the first four minutes of the game, SBU gave up an eventual 19-point lead during the first half (with 7:15 on the clock) to be up by only eight at the half, 40-32.

Amber Wheeler led the Lady 'Cats at halftime with 11 points and Gwyn Smith led the team with six rebounds.

The Cougars stayed within nine points during most of the second half, even to come within four points with 11:11 left in the game. However, SBU outscored the Cougars of SIUE in the last 11 minutes of the game, 20-8. SBU was up by many as 11 in that last 11 minutes before the score got close with 4:04 to go (65-58). SBU scored the next 11 points before SIUE's Jacque Howard drained a jumper outside to reduce the lead to 16 points for the Lady 'Cats. SBU regained possession with 31 seconds left on the clock and ran the time down to win the first regular season game of the season.

SBU had four players in double figures. Both Allison Davis and Jenni Jones had 14 ponts, followed by Alicia Mercer and Wheeler with 13 points each. Smith led the team with eight rebounds while Mercer added seven boards.

The Lady 'Cats shot 45.8 percent (17-59) from the field, 38.5 percent (5-13) from the three-pont arc and 68 (17-25) percent from the line. Mercer hit nine of 10 from the charity stripe and SBU was 10-12 from the line in the second half (83.3 percent).

SBU will return to action on Saturday when they face East Central (Okla.) at 5 p.m. in the Classic. ECU lost to Pittsburg State 84-68 on Friday. The Lady Tigers were led by four in double digits, including guard Lindsay Furche with 15 points. Lesli Shores led the team with 10 rebounds.

Boxscore - SBU 76, SIUE 60