COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – SIUE’s Gabby Nikitinaite led all scorers with 20 points, but the Cougars fell to Tennessee Tech on the highway 75-60.

The match was broadcast nationally on ESPNU as portion of We Back again Pat, which honors Corridor of Fame Coach Pat Summitt and brings recognition to the combat towards Alzheimer’s.

Nikitinaite strike 4 three-pointers in her initially beginning assignment since Jan. 1. She added four helps and 4 steals while taking pictures 7 of 18 from the field.

Mikayla Kinnard, also in the commencing lineup for the initial time considering the fact that Jan. 1, was the only other participant in double figures for the Cougars with 12 points.

“It was terrific to get Gabby and Mikayla additional minutes,” explained SIUE Head Coach Samantha Quigley Smith. The duo performed 30 and 29 minutes, respectively.

The Cougars, 6-10 in general and 2-3 in the Ohio Valley Convention, played very well in the opening quarter, taking a 16-15 direct.

Tennessee Tech, 9-7 total and 4-2 in the OVC, rebounded with a robust second interval by shooting 7 of 13 from the field in the quarter and grabbing a 39-32 lead by halftime.

“We went through a negative stand in the 3rd quarter, and I consider we really couldn’t recover from it,” mentioned Smith.

SIUE fell driving by as a lot as 15 in the third period of time prior to…