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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – A fifth-straight game of 16 points or more from Jordan Hunter led the Southeast Missouri women's basketball team to a 66-49 victory over Eastern Illinois on Hall of Fame weekend at the Show Me Center.
 
Hunter finished the game with a career-high 22 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in arguably the best game of her career. The rebounds and assists tied her career bests.
 
"We wouldn't be able to do this without Jordan," Southeast head coach Ty Margenthaler said. "She is playing like a first team all-conference player. We need her to continue to play like this."
 
The victory snaps a three-game skid for the Redhawks as they improve to 6-13 overall and 2-4 in the OVC. Eastern Illinois falls to 8-11, 3-5.
 
"We understood the importance of this game," Margenthaler said. "I thought tonight our defensive effort and our bench was outstanding. It was a complete game."
 
The visitors jumped out to a quick 9-2 lead over the first four minutes of action. Hunter, who entered the game averaging 17.2 points over her last four games, hit the lone shot for the Redhawks.
 
Southeast came storming back utilizing a 9-0 run, highlighted by a 3-point basket from Allyson Bradshaw. Her trey with 8:32 remaining in the first half gave the Redhawks their first lead of the game at 12-11.
 
Southeast continued to keep the pressure on with another run of holding EIU scoreless, this time an 8-0 run gave the Redhawks a 22-16 lead with 4:40 remaining.
 
Down 16-14, Hunter hit a 3-point basket that was followed with by a jumper and a free throw from Kara Wright. Yelena Rosado ended the run with a layup to give Southeast the six-point lead.
 
Patricia Mack was able to knock the ball away from Jordyne Crunk and pitched it ahead to Rosado who was streaking down the right side of the floor for the easy lay-in.
 
Eastern Illinois then used a mini-run of its own to knot the game at 22-22 with 30 seconds left in the half but a Hunter layup in the final seconds of the half gave the Redhawks a 24-22 lead at intermission.
 
"We had a tug-of-war first half," Margenthaler said. "We were able to get the lead stretched out in the second half."
 
Holding a 34-32 lead with 14:26 remaining in the game, the Redhawks began to make their run, building a lead they would not relinquish. Kenyada Brown made a layup followed by a Mack 3-point basket.
 
Southeast continued to pile on the points, building a 12-point lead with 8:55 remaining, the largest of the game at that point.
 
The margin would remain much the same throughout the rest of the contest until the closing minutes as the Redhawks held EIU scoreless for the final 4:26 and closed on a 6-0 run for the 66-49 victory.
 
Hunter had the game-high with 22 points followed by 13 points from Bradshaw. Brown also had one of her best games as a Redhawk with eight points and six rebounds.
 
Southeast largely held Sabina Oroszova, the Panthers leading scorer, in check with just 12 points on 3-of-13 shooting.
 
Mack was charged with defending the 17.2 point 10.8 rebound per game junior. When Mack got into foul trouble and Margenthaler was pleased with how Brown defended Oroszova.
 
"Having Kenyada come in was great," Margenthaler said. "This will only helper her down the road."
 
The Redhawks shot 41.4 percent from the field while holding EIU to 28.8 percent.
 
The Redhawks continue their stay at home with a contest Monday against SIU Edwardsville. Game time is slated for 6:30 p.m.