CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Southeast Missouri women's basketball was defeated 79-74 in overtime by the nearby Southern Illinois Salukis on Wednesday afternoon.
 
The game to start was a defensive battle, neither team letting the other score anything easy. SIU shot 25 percent while the Redhawks had 9 turnovers in the opening quarter. The score was tied 10-10 at the end of one.
 
In the second period both team's offenses began to click. The Salukis ball movement led to a lot of easy buckets for them, as they took at 34-25 lead into the half.
 
Halfway through the game, Southern Illinois had all but one player score for them. Adrianna Murphy led the way for the Redhawks with six points and two assists through the first two quarters.
 
In the second half, the Redhawks offense really came alive. After continuously trading baskets the first half of the third quarter, Kaley Leyhue knocked down three big three-pointers over a span of two minutes that helped the Redhawks tie it 44 at the end of the third.
 
The fourth quarter was a battle, with each team trading the lead back and forth throughout the quarter. SIU managed to stretch the lead to five at 67-62 with four minutes left, but the Redhawks answered with excellent defense leading to a couple open shots they knocked down.

The Redhawks were tied 68-68 and were on defense with 19 seconds remaining. SIU tried to execute a pick and roll but the pass was thrown too strong, the ball went out of bounds to the Redhawks with four seconds left.
 
Adrianna Murphy went the entire length of the floor and a good look at the hoop, but it was just short, sending the Redhawks to their first overtime game this season.
 
In the overtime period, Southeast got up 74-70 quick, however, it was all downhill for the Redhawks from there. The Salukis rattled off nine unanswered points the last 3:15 to secure a 79-74 win.
 
Adrianna Murphy led the way for the Redhawks with 19 points (career high), eight rebounds and five assists.
 
Kaley Leyhue netted a career high 17 points including five three pointers, also a career best.
 
Tesia Thompson had a nice bounce back game, chipping in 15 points and six rebounds.
 
As a team Southeast shot the ball well at 45 percent. However, they were unable to contain the Salukis, who shot 49 percent including 40 percent from three.
 
The Redhawks will play next on Friday when they host the SEMO Thanksgiving Classic. Bradley, Evangel and Nicholls State will be traveling to Cape Girardeau to compete in the tournament. Southeast will take on Evangel on Friday and Bradley on Saturday, both games at 3:15.