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Columbia, Mo. – A career night from Kara Wright was not enough for the Southeast Missouri State women's basketball as the Redhawks fell 62-57 to Missouri Thursday night in Columbia, Mo.
 
Wright scored a career-high 26 points on 9-of-13 shooting including a perfect 4-of-4 from long range.
 
"I'm not about moral victories anymore," Southeast head coach Ty Margenthaler said. "We had an opportunity to win the game down the stretch. I thought we really executed some clutch plays in the first half."
 
Southeast (2-3) held a 32-23 halftime lead but could not withstand an 11-1 run from Missouri (4-0) to start the second half.
 
The Tigers took a 34-33 lead on a jumper from All-SEC forward Bri Kulas, who scored a game-high 27 points for Mizzou.
 
"She is outstanding," Margenthaler said of Kulas. "She is one of the top players in the SEC. She was a monster and really carried them."
 
The Tigers would continue their run to build a 46-38 lead with 9:35 remaining in the game.
 
Wright utilized an old-fashioned three-point play to bring the Redhawks back within five points at 46-41. However, the Tigers would answer to build a lead of eight points twice in the next four minutes, including a 52-44 advantage with 5:16 left.
 
Patricia Mack then used her version of a three-point play the hard way, getting fouled on a layup and converting the free throw to cut the lead to five.
 
On the ensuing Missouri possession, Bree Fowler got fouled and went to the free throw line and sank both shots to increase the lead to 54-47 with 4:38 left.
 
Trading possessions without any baskets, the Redhawks returned on their offensive end where Wright sank a jump shot for the five-point game.
 
Southeast was able to cut the lead down to three points on a pair of Connor King free throws with 2:00 minutes left on the clock but Missouri quickly answered, rebuilding its eight-point lead in just 63 seconds.
 
Margenthaler called a timeout to regroup for the final 57 seconds that saw the Redhawks chip the lead back to just three points with 26 ticks on the clock.
 
Mack scored a jumper in the paint while Jordan Hunter hit a pair for free throws followed by an Olivia Hackmann layup.
 
Hackmann was able to convert her layup after Kara Wright was able to make a steal from Maddie Stock on the in-bounds pass.
 
Forced to foul and unable to convert any of the final three shot attempts, the Redhawks fell just short of claiming their third victory over an SEC opponent.
 
"We were in the ball game and had a chance to win because we stuck with the game plan," Margenthaler said. "They are a 3-point shooting team and we shut their guards down."
 
Southeast held Mizzou to just one made long-range basket on 1-of-15 shooting.
 
Wright's 26 points are a season-high for Southeast, as she converted all four of the Redhawks 3-point makes.  Mack scored 10 points, all coming in the second half.
 
Kulas was the only Missouri player to score in double figures.
 
The Redhawks continued a season-long trend of out-rebounding opponents by claiming a 45-39 advantage led by 12 from King.
 
"That is something we have been doing a phenomenal job on," Margenthaler said. "I am really proud to go against a bigger and stronger Missouri team and dominate the glass.
 
The Redhawks continue the road swing at Wichita State Saturday at 2:05 p.m.