EDWARDSVILLE, ILL. -- Playing its final four regular season games, the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville women's basketball team is focused on playing well leading to the Great Lakes Valley Conference tournament.
         This week the Cougars, 17-6 overall and 10-5 in the GLVC, will play two teams that are on their heels. Both Quincy and Southern Indiana are tied for third in the GLVC West behind SIUE.
         SIUE will play Quincy Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. in the Vadalabene Center. The Cougars will then travel to Evansville, Ind., to play Southern Indiana Thursday at 5:15 p.m.
         "It is a huge week for us and them," said SIUE women's basketball coach Wendy Hedberg.
         The Cougars have already defeated Southern Indiana and Quincy earlier in the season, but the team is not looking past either of them.
         "We were fortunate to get a win at Quincy, and they are just coming off of a big win at Drury so they should be tough," said Hedberg.
         The Cougars defeated Southern Indiana at the Vadalabene Center earlier in the season but Hedberg thinks the Screaming Eagles will be even better at home.
         "They (USI) will give us everything we want at their place," said Hedberg.
         The game plan for the Cougars is to tighten up defensively and execute offensively.
         "We need to take care of the ball, minimize turnovers and do the little things," said Hedberg.
         Hedberg is happy with the play of Julianne McMillen (Pana) over the last month.
         "She has stepped up and taken care of the inside, both offensively and defensively," said Hedberg.
                  -siue cougars-