CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Southeast Missouri women's basketball (15-14, 8-8 OVC) brought the regular season to a close Saturday with a three-point loss at Austin Peay (10-19, 8-8 OVC), 74-71.
 
A 15-2 run to end the second quarter helped the Redhawks erase an 18-point deficit and get them back in the game; however, the Redhawks were never able to recapture a lead.
 
"I am proud of our fight and the fact we didn't quit today," head coach Rekha Patterson said. "We showed toughness being down 18 but came back to make it a game. We turned the ball over way too much, especially on the road. We can't turn the ball over that much and expect to win on the road. However, we played hard and tough and I will take that type of effort every day of the season."
 
The Redhawk offense outshot the Lady Govs, shooting 44.8% in the game. Southeast was able to stay close to the Lady Govs behind a pair of career performances by Bri Mitchell (24 points) and Deja Jones (20 points).
 
"Bri was tough tonight. She was getting a little frustrated because Tiasha Gray was having a lot of success as well but I challenged her to be the toughest player on the floor for us because our team follows that. And after that, she went toe-to-toe with considerably the best player in the league.
 
"Again, I challenged Deja in the first half when their post players were scoring in the paint. She jumped up to contest a shot and from that moment on, she knew she could play tough. I told her, 'you're too good of an athlete to be tired so don't play or think like you're tired.' From then on, she didn't. When she plays that hard, she can be really good."
 
Southeast led for over nine minutes of the first quarter and at once led by as much as six points. With the Redhawks up 14-8 on a layup by Jones, the Lady Govs offense began to fire while the defense began to hold the Redhawks quiet.
 
Austin Peay rattled off five-straight points to cut the Redhawk lead to one, 14-13. Gray nailed a jumper under the basket with seconds left in the frame to give the Lady Govs their first lead, 15-14, to end the period.
 
The Lady Govs used a 10-0 run to open an 18-point lead with 4:11 to play in the second quarter, 38-20.
 
A 3-point bucket at the top of the key by Connor King sparked a 15-2 run by Southeast to close the first half. Hannah Noe hit a pair of 3-pointers of her own over the run that closed the Lady Gov lead to five, 40-35, heading into halftime. Corneisha Henderson added four points to the run.
 
At the end of the first half, Mitchell led the way for Southeast with 16 points. Each team shot 52% in the half but Southeast was more efficient with its shots, shooting 13-of-25 while the Lady Govs shot 18-of-34.
 
Southeast and Austin Peay went basket-for-basket in the in the third quarter. The Lady Govs narrowly outscored the Redhawks 17-16 in the frame and held a 57-51 lead going into the fourth quarter.
 
The Lady Govs opened the fourth with five unanswered points to broaden the lead back to 11, 62-51, with 6:36 to play. Southeast was able to cut the lead to six a couple times then to four. Jones hit a layup with 20 second to play to slice the lead to 73-69.
 
Shelby Olszewski was fouled and hit a free throw to make it a five-point game. Olszewski committed a lane violation on her second foul shot and turned the ball over to Southeast. Mitchell hit a jumper with 14 seconds left to make it a three-point game. Imani Johnson was able to get a 3-point shot off with two seconds left but couldn't get it to go. The Redhawks would fall, 74-71.
 
The Redhawks outscored Austin Peay in the fourth, 20-17.
 
Noe tallied 11 points in the game for the Redhawks with three 3-pointers.
 
Jones pulled down eight rebounds in the contest followed by King and Mitchell with six apiece. Mitchell also dished out five assists with two steals in Saturday's game.
 
As a team, Southeast outrebounded the Lady Govs, 40-31.
 
Gray rattled off 27 points in the game for the Lady Govs.
 
Southeast will play in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament next week. The Redhawks will carry either the No. 5 or No. 6 seed in the postseason tournament. A win by Tennessee State over Belmont on Sunday will give Southeast the No. 5 seed. A loss by the Tigers will give the Redhawks the No. 6 seed. Either way, the Redhawks will play Thursday to begin tournament play.
 
"I hope our team's effort tonight translates into 'there is nothing we can't do when we play extremely hard, extremely tough, and together.' All the lessons that we've learned we can take and play in March and play for a championship and a berth into the NCAA Tournament. We are going to enjoy this and we are going to work hard and have fun doing it."