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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – An outburst in the second half, aided by a 26-5 run, pushed the Southeast Missouri women's basketball team to a 79-71 victory over SIU Edwardsville Monday night at the Show Me Center.
 
The Redhawks placed five players in double figures, led by Olivia Hackmann with a career-high 17 points while Connor King matched her career best with 13 points.
 
The Redhawks second-straight win improves them to 7-11 overall and 3-4 in the Ohio Valley Conference. SIUE falls to 5-16 overall and 2-7 in the loop.
 
"I was really pleased with tonight," Southeast head coach Ty Margenthaler said. "I thought we came out with good energy but I didn't think we had great focus. There were too many times that the shot clock got under eight seconds and we didn't win that possession."
 
Both teams had a rough first half of sorts, with neither squad able to get any traction on the offensive end. Southeast shot 34.6 percent from the field and just 9.1 percent (1-of-11) from 3-point range. The Cougars entered the intermission break with a 33-30 lead.
 
Southeast was able to turn it around both offensively and defensively in the second half.
 
Back-to-back 3-point baskets for the Redhawks gave Southeast the momentum it was looking for after the back and forth first half. Patricia Mack sank a three with 17:40 remaining in the game to break a 37-37 tie. The trey sparked a 26-5 run for the Redhawks that saw the lead stretch to 21 points.
 
After forcing the Cougars into a bad jumper, Allyson Bradshaw answered the call, sinking a long-range shot of her own to give the Redhawks a six-point lead with 17:09 left on the clock.
 
"We have really become a good team shooting the ball in the second half," Margenthaler said. "I liked the fact that we kept our energy high throughout the game."
 
Southeast continued to pile on the points, by using the long ball, which was not falling in the first half. In the run, the Redhawks made 5-of-7 from long range including two from Bradshaw.
 
The run ended with Jordan Hunter sinking a jumper with 9:56 remaining in the game to give Southeast the 63-42 lead.
 
"It wasn't the prettiest game, but it was nice to see our basketball team win it," Margenthaler said. "Maybe a month ago we wouldn't have. Good teams find ways to win when it is ugly and that is what we did tonight."
 
The Cougars attempted a late rally, but ultimately fell short as the Redhawks win back-to-back games for the first time since January of 2013 when Southeast beat Austin Peay and Murray State on Jan. 5 and 7, respectively.
 
Hackmann's career-high paced the Redhawks while King added 13 points, Mack scored 12 points and Bradshaw and Kara Wright each scored 10 apiece.
 
"I was happy with Olivia (Hackmann)," Margenthaler said. "To have her step up and play good on both ends of the floor was big for her because she had two games that she probably wished she could have played better.
 
"I was also really proud of Connor (King) because she is important to this team. What she did tonight, she has to feel awful good."
 
King finished the game perfect from the field (5-of-5) while making both of her 3-point attempts.
 
The Cougars also placed five scorers in double figures, led by CoCo Moore, Miranda Brandt and Micah Jones, who each scored 14 points.
 
The Redhawks won the battle of the boards with 39 rebounds led by Mack with nine. Jones grabbed nine of the Cougars 33 rebounds.
 
With her two made 3-point baskets, Bradshaw has tied Rusty Sowers for fifth all-time with 110 made long-range baskets. Sowers played from 1997 to 1999.
 
After a mini two-game homestand, the Redhawks travel to Eastern Kentucky for a 3 p.m. game on Saturday.