Photo Gallery (by Sandy King)

It took two extra sessions, but the Ohio Valley Conference opener eventually went the way of SIUE as they knocked off Eastern Illinois 59-52 in two overtimes in the OVC opener for both teams at Groniger Arena.
 
EIU trailed 12-0 to start the game but battled back to knot the game at 12-12 on a jumper by Ava Stoller just over two minutes into the second quarter.   EIU would lead 19-18 at the half limiting SIUE to just six points in the second quarter.
 
Stoller carried the Panthers offense for most of the night finishing with 22 points and just missing her second career double-double with nine rebounds.
 
The two teams traded the lead over the second half with the biggest lead of six points coming for SIUE with Kiyoko Proctor's fastbreak lay-up with 8:48 left in regulation.
 
EIU would tie the game at 46-46 with a Meioshe Mason basket with 14 seconds left to force the first overtime.
 
It was a Stoller basket with 30 seconds left in the first overtime that tied the game at 50-50 to force the second extra session.
 
In the second overtime Proctor hit four free throws to ice the game and move SIUE to 8-3 overall, 1-0 in the OVC.  Proctor had 17 points, one of two SIUE players to finish with 17.  Lauren Miller was the other.
 
Abbie Boutilier scored eight points with 11 rebounds and four blocks for EIU which felt to 1-11 overall, 0-1 in the OVC.