Box Score Final Statistics

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Bradley University (2-0) scored nine points in the final 1:20 to pull off a 72-68 come-from-behind win over Southeast Missouri (1-1) Monday night in the Redhawks home-opener at the Show Me Center.

"We hit a lull late in the second half and Bradley became the aggressors," said head coach Ty Margenthaler. "Their seniors made big shots and big plays and made this game a little hard to swallow, especially having an 18-point lead. We had some lapses but we had a lot of good looks but we need to continue to have better focus."

Southeast led by a 6-pioint, 36-30, margin at the half. The Redhawks saw their largest lead in the half at 7:58 left when Kara Wright drained a jumper in the paint to go up 20-12 on the Braves. Bradley led only twice in the entire first half, each only by a point, at 15:41 left and then again with 3:55 left on the clock.

Connor King was well on her way to a double-double at the completion of the first half with seven rebounds and six points. Wright led Southeast with eight points in 18 minutes of play at halftime.

Southeast found its largest lead of the game of 18 points at 5:15 into the second half with a layup by King. Slowly, Bradley chipped away at the Redhawks' lead to bring the game within two points.

BU trailed, 64-62, with 2:44 left to play before coming alive to outscore Southeast 10-4 the rest of the way. The Braves buried a three-pointer on back-to-back possessions with Kelly Frings and Kelsey Budd hitting those shots in a span of 45 seconds. BU then followed that up with three free throws to seal its second win in a row.

KIng recorded her first career double-double with 10 points and a career-high 12 rebounds to lead the Redhawks. King also tied a career-high three-made field goals. Allyson Bradshaw put 12 points on the board in the second half of play.

Wright closed the game with 14 total points, leading the Redhawks in that category. Wright also tallied a career-high three blocks on the evening.

Margenthaler added, "Connor did really well for us tonight coming out and being an aggressor. Kara looked a little more aggressive than she did the first ball game. Despite a tough loss, we did have a number of positives that came out of the evening." 

As a team, Southeast narrowly outshot Bradley 34.3% in the field. Southeast drained 30.8% of their three-pointers and 66.7% from the line.

For the Braves, Michelle Young put 22 points on the board. Catie O'Leary posted the Braves' lone double-double with 12 rebounds and 13 total points. In all, four Braves players put up 10 or more points.

Southeast Missouri returns to the hardwood Thursday as they host in-state rival UMKC at 6:30 p.m.