Edwardsville, Ill. --- The Tennessee State University women's basketball team dropped a 70-60 decision to SIU-Edwardsville on the road Tuesday night at the Vadalabene Center.

Tennessee State sank to 5-11 while SIU-Edwardsville improved to 4-12.

Avery Jones nearly recorded a double-double with 16 points and nine rebounds on 7-of-8 shooting from the field. Meredith Stafford finished the game with 13 points.

Raven Berry led SIU-Edwardsville with 20 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double while Jazmin Hill added 16 points.

A bucket from Avery Jones christened the game before TSU grabbed a 15-8 lead over SIUE at the 13-minute mark.

Over the next five minutes, SIUE scored straight points to close to within one, 15-14. Destiney Gaston made two free-throws to put the Lady Tigers back on top 17-14 but the Cougars answered right back with a three-pointer to knot the game at 17-all.

With TSU holding on to a slight, 22-21, lead SIUE used a 10-2 run to capture a 31-24 lead. The Cougars led 32-27 at halftime.  

In the second half, TSU climbed to within three, 34-31, but back-to-back triples put SIUE on top, 40-31 (16:02). Moments later a Lady Tiger turnover led to a break-away lay-up that made the Cougar lead, 42-33.

The Lady Tigers clawed back to within five with little less than eight minutes left on the clock but two quick lay-ups from the Cougars put SIUE back up 62-51.

The Cougars built the lead back up to double-digits on their next possession and never trailed again.

Tennessee State shot 45.3 percent from the field but only knocked down 22.2 percent  (4-of-18) from three-point range. TSU committed 25 turnovers and lost the battle of the boards, 39-31.

The Lady Tigers return to action on Saturday, Jan.15 when they host Austin Peay in OVC action. Game time is slated for 5:30 p.m. in the Gentry Center.