PDF Box Score | HTML Box Score
 
CHARLESTON, Ill. – Southeast Missouri (10-17, 3-11) erased a 12-point deficit and tied the game with 24 seconds left but was unable to complete the comeback in a 49-48 loss at Eastern Illinois (10-17, 7-7) on Saturday afternoon. Brianna Mitchell tied a career-high with 20 points and was a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line. Jasmine Robinson added 17 points, including 13 in the second half.
 
"We fought like crazy and we're continuing to fight and play hard," head coach Ty Margenthaler said. "Our defense was outstanding. They locked in to what we wanted to do on the defensive end and we did a lot of things to win the game. Unfortunately we didn't get the win, but our effort was outstanding, and it's very disheartening for this team to come away with a loss. I'm really proud of our players."
 
The Redhawks shot just 27 percent (15-for-56) from the floor for the game, but converted 74 percent (17-of-23) of shots from the free throw line.
 
EIU shot 35 percent (18-for-51) from the field and 36 percent (5-for-14) from beyond the arc for the afternoon. Sabina Oroszova recorded a double-double with game-highs of 22 points, 15 rebounds and six blocks for the Panthers.
 
Eastern opened the game on an 11-2 run, led by seven early points by Oroszova.
 
Olivia Hackmann drained a jumper for the Redhawks to cut the lead to 13-6 with 10:25 left before halftime. Mitchell made four straight free throws to trim the deficit to 20-10 with 5:12 remaining in the opening half.
 
Robinson connected on a jumper to pull within single digits at 24-16 with 1:49 left before intermission. She followed that up with another basket to tighten the margin to six points with 18 seconds on the clock.
 
The Panthers held a 26-18 halftime lead following a driving layup by Phylicia Johnson with two seconds left before the break.
 
Southeast shot 23 percent (7-for-30) from the floor in the first half while EIU converted 46 percent (11-of-24) of its field goal attempts during the first 20 minutes. Eastern shot just 38 percent (3-for-8) from the foul line while the Redhawks made 67 percent (4-of-6) of its shots from the charity stripe in the first half.
 
Mitchell led Southeast with six points at the half while Robinson scored four. Hillary Lively added three rebounds and the Redhawks forced nine turnovers during the opening frame.
 
Oroszova notched 13 points in the first half for Eastern while Erica Brown had four points at the break. The Panthers held an 18-10 advantage in points in the paint at intermission.
 
Mitchell again cut the lead to six at 26-20 with the first basket of the second half.
 
Oroszova drained a triple from the top of the circle to open up a 31-20 lead for Eastern with 15:25 left.
 
Southeast then got consecutive baskets from Mitchell and Robinson to make the score 31-24 with 14:21 remaining. Robinson converted two free throws to again pull within six at 35-29 with 11:36 left. She added another foul shot to cut the lead to five with 10:32 remaining.
 
Alece Shumpert drained a 3-pointer from the corner to push the EIU lead back to eight points at 38-30 with 9:45 left to play.
 
Robinson added two more free throws to close within four points at 38-34 with 8:10 remaining. She then connected on a triple to cut the deficit to 40-37 at the 5:42 mark.
 
Oroszova connected on another shot from long range, increasing the Panthers lead to 45-39 with 4:49 left.
 
Mitchell answered back with six straight points to pull within two at 45-43 with 3:39 remaining. Robinson made a free throw on the following possession to cut the lead to one point with 3:06 left.
 
Shumpert hit a long 3-pointer to stretch the lead to 48-44 with 1:07 left.
 
Mitchell converted two free throws to again close within a basket at 48-46 with 58 seconds remaining. She tied the score at 48-48 with two more foul shots with 24 seconds left.
 
On the ensuing possession, Orosvoza drew a foul and made one of two free throws.
 
A running jumper by Mitchell in the closing seconds hit the rim but did not fall as Eastern secured the rebound for the victory.
 
The Redhawks outscored EIU 30-23 in the second half and held the Panthers to 26 percent (7-for-27) shooting from the field after halftime. Southeast shot 31 percent (8-of-26) in the final 20 minutes.
 
Erin Bollmann, Connor King and Robinson each finished with eight rebounds in the contest. Hackmann added five points and eight boards. Bollmann, Hackmann and Robinson all grabbed two steals.
 
Brown totaled 10 points for EIU while Shumpert finished with eight.
 
Southeast plays its final road game of the season at SIU Edwardsville on Wednesday, Feb. 25. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. from the Vadalabene Center in Edwardsville, Illinois.