EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (Interstat) — Two Ohio Valley Conference women’s basketball teams seeking to halt slides will meet Thursday when the SIU Edwardsville Cougars host the Tennessee State Tigers at the Vadalabene Center.

The Cougars (8-10 overall) enter on a six-game losing streak, their last win coming on Dec. 18 against Eastern Illinois. Their most recent defeat was a 64-56 road loss to Southeast Missouri State on Saturday. Guard Macy Silvey, a player to watch, led SIU Edwardsville with 11 points and three assists in that contest. Silvey has averaged 8.8 points over her last six games.

The visiting Tigers (3-14) have lost three of their last four, including a 72-67 home loss to Southern Indiana on Saturday. Tennessee State’s Somah Kamara broke out with 14 points in 17 minutes off the bench in that game, providing a bright spot. Prior to that, the guard had been held to seven total points over her previous three appearances.

While both teams have struggled in the new year, SIU Edwardsville holds a distinct advantage in the standings and will look to defend its home court. The Cougars’ offense will aim to find consistency against a Tennessee State defense that has allowed 71.2 points per game this season.

Conversely, the Tigers will rely on Kamara’s emerging scoring and the production of XaiOnna Whitfield, who scored a team-high 16 points in the loss to Southern Indiana, to try and snap a road skid.

Thursday’s matchup is the first of two regular-season meetings between the programs this season. They are scheduled to play again in Nashville on Feb. 21.

The game is set for a 7 p.m. CT tip-off.