WICHITA, Kan. – Southeast Missouri women's basketball won its first overtime game of the season Friday, downing Wichita State (1-5), 66-62.
 
The Redhawks snapped their three-game losing streak and climb back over .500 at 5-4 on the season.
 
"I don't know if our young ladies know about the program we just beat," head coach Rekha Patterson said. "Wichita State has gone to three-straight NCAA Tournaments on three-straight Missouri Valley Championships. They have a great tradition and they are what we are building towards. For us to go into their house, on the road, and play with great heart and to come out with a win makes me very proud of our program, fight, and toughness.
 
"We understood the importance of every rebound and how to execute on offense. Our ladies were tough enough to see them hit a three to send the game to overtime and play an overtime game. Our players never gave up and stayed together no matter what."
 
Southeast had four players in double-figure points Friday afternoon. Redshirt-freshman Imani Johnson picked up her first career double-double with 14 points and a career-high 10 rebounds.
 
"I am so happy to see Imani battle some internal adversity today," Patterson added. "We have to remember that Imani is still a freshman and these are the first games of her college career. When she is able to slow down and let things come to her, she is able to play much better. She went out early, got a little frazzled, but calmed down and was huge for us the rest of the game."
 
Friday's game was Southeast's first overtime game since Jan. 17 of last season against Tennessee Tech.
 
Wichita State hosted its annual School House Rocks with the Shocks Friday. Over 8,000 area school kids filled Charles Koch Arena.
 
Southeast found themselves down by two at the end of the first quarter, 14-12. Southeast shot 4-of-19 from the field in the frame. The Redhawks trailed after the first despite the Shockers ending the quarter on a 5:01 scoring drought.
 
Tied at 16 early in the second quarter, the Shockers went on a seven-point run to take a 23-16 lead on Southeast. Wichita State went on to take a 10-point lead on the Redhawks with 5:24 to play.
 
An eight-point run by Southeast, sparked by a layup by Erin Bollmann, ensued to pull within two of Wichita State, 29-27.
 
The Redhawks were down two with two minutes to play, 31-29. A good 3-point bucket at the buzzer by Aundra Stovall put the Shockers up by five at halftime, 34-29.
 
Bollmann finished with seven first-half points to lead Southeast. Johnson and Bollmann each pulled down four rebounds in the opening half to lead the team.
 
Southeast used a 10-point run in the third to take a 41-36 lead on the Shockers with 2:09 to play.
 
Wichita State's first field goal of the period did not come until the 1:41 mark of the frame.
 
Southeast ended the third quarter on a good jumper by Bri Mitchell to extend the lead to seven, 47-40.
 
The Redhawks outscored Wichita State, 18-6, in the third period. Johnson tallied eight points in the third quarter.
 
Late in the fourth quarter, Wichita State found a 52-51 lead on a layup by Jaleesa Chapel.
 
With 29 seconds left, a jumper by Olivia Hackmann put Southeast back up by three, 57-54.
 
A 3-point bucket by TaQuandra Mike with seconds left in regulation tied the game at 57 all and forced the game into overtime.
 
A 3-point basket by Diamond Lockhart gave the Shockers a 60-57 lead a minute and 31 seconds into the overtime period. Mitchell tied the game when she converted a conventional 3-point play after being fouled, 60-60. 
 
The Redhawks found themselves back out in front by two on a layup by Mitchell with 42 seconds left.
 
With 10 seconds left, Johnson picked up a rebound after a pair of missed free throws by Stovall.
 
Johnson was fouled and drained both free throws to extend the Redhawk lead to 66-62.
 
The Redhawks would hold on for eight more seconds to defeat the Shockers, 66-62.
 
Aside from Johnson, Adrianna Murphy (12), Mitchell (15), and Hackmann (10) all had double-digit points in the contest.
 
"Bri made some tough plays for us today that we needed to see out of her. Olivia is getting the other teams' best defensive plans and players but she still got to double-digit points and got to the free-throw line today."
 
Hackmann extended her double-digit point streak to nine games.
 
Southeast shot 81% (17-for-21) from the free-throw line. Johnson (6-for-6), Hackmann (4-for-4), Mitchell (3-for-3), and Murphy (2-for-2) were all perfect from the charity stripe.
 
The Redhawks had 11 steals and forced a season-high 21 turnovers.
 
"I think our 2-2-1 press gave them some concerns and it got them to turn the ball over a lot. Our press didn't allow them to play in the natural rhythm that they would have liked. It was good for us to be aggressive and we put ourselves in a position to make plays," Patterson concluded.
 
The Redhawks' six-game road swing will come to a close Tuesday at Lipscomb. The Redhawks and Bisons tip off at 6:30 p.m. from Nashville, Tennessee.