Macomb, Ill. – Southeast Missouri women's basketball fell to Western Illinois 87-59 on Tuesday evening.
 
Western Illinois got off to the quick 17-2 start capitalizing on the Redhawks early turnovers and knocking down three three-pointers in the first five minutes.
 
Adrianna Murphy stopped the bleeding with three straight three-pointers around the five-minute mark. However, Southeast still trailed 27-17 at the end of one.
 
The Leathernecks kept the Redhawks to just one field goal the first six minutes of the second quarter, helping them stretch their lead to over 25 points.
 
Western Illinois led 52-25 at halftime.
 
Southeast started the third quarter very aggressive, going on a 9-0 run to cut the lead to 18 and forcing an early timeout from Western Illinois. After the timeout, both teams traded buckets for the rest of the quarter.
 
The Redhawks trailed 67-48 after three quarters.
 
SEMO couldn't keep any momentum from the third quarter over to the fourth, as the Leathernecks went on the win by 28.
 
For the game, the Redhawks shot nine free throws to the Leathernecks 31 attempts, where they connected on 23.
 
Adrianna Murphy led the way for the Redhawks with a career high 20 points including four three-pointers, also a career high. Murphy also had eight rebounds, five assists and four steals in the game.  
 
Iyanna McCurdy made her season debut after missing the first eight games due to injury. She chipped in 10 points.
 
Kennedi Allen had a career high five points on the night to go along with five rebounds.
 
Deja Jones returned to action as well for the Redhawks after missing the previous game with an ankle injury. She had six rebounds in 20 minutes off the bench.
 
Southeast will travel straight to Muncie, Ind. for its game against the undefeated Ball State Cardinals. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m., ET.