CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Southeast Missouri women's basketball (6-5) fell to Central Arkansas (6-1) Sunday afternoon, 63-54. The Redhawks tried to mount a comeback in the fourth quarter but ultimately fell short in their efforts.
 
Deja Jones led the the way for the Redhawks with her second-straight double-double, putting up 13 points and a career-high 12 rebounds.
 
Southeast used a three-minute scoring drought by the Sugar Bears to capture a late lead in the first quarter. The Redhawks found themselves up 11-9 at the end of the first period.
 
The teams stayed neck-and-neck throughout the first 10 minutes of play with neither team taking more than a three-point lead and the lead changing four times.
 
The back-and-forth action continued into the second quarter. A layup by Adrianna Murphy gave the Redhawks a four-point lead, 13-9, to start the period. After that, the lead changed seven more times before the half was over.
 
Central Arkansas led by three, 26-23, to end the first half of play.
 
Imani Johnson led the squad with five first-half points followed by Hannah Noe with four.
 
Jones had four rebounds in the first half and complimented it with three points.
 
The Sugar Bears outscored the Redhawks 21-13 in the third period. UCA went on a 14-2 run over a five-and-a-half-minute span to go up 45-30 on the Redhawks.
 
Southeast used a 6-2 run to end the frame and narrow the deficit to 47-36 going into the fourth quarter.
 
Jones tipped the double-digit point mark in the third with 11 to that point. Jones also had nine rebounds at the conclusion of the third quarter.
 
UCA went up by 15, 51-36, with 7:47 to play in the game.
 
A 10-1 run for the Redhawks ensued, allowing them to pull within four of the Sugar Bears with a minute thirty to play.
 
With little time and down by a handful, the Redhawks began fouling and sending the Sugar Bears to the free-throw line. The Redhawks couldn't gain much ground on UCA as they drained seven of their last eight free throws to go back up by nine as time expired, 63-54.
 
Bri Mitchell and Johnson each put up 10 points in the game. Mitchell had five assists for the Redhawks. Erin Bollmann had eight points with three blocks in the game.
 
The Redhawks were once again strong in the paint as they put up 32 points in the paint Sunday.
 
The Redhawks will take finals week off from competition and will return to action on Tuesday, Dec. 22 when they welcome the Southern Illinois Salukis. The game against the Salukis will be $2 Tuesdy and will feature $2 admission, hot dogs, small soda, and small popcorn. The Redhawks and Salukis tip off at noon from the Show Me Center.