MUNCIE, Ind. – Southeast Missouri women's basketball was defeated 69-56 by the undefeated Ball State Cardinals on Thursday evening.
 
Southeast struggled on the offensive end in the first quarter, scoring zero points the first seven minutes of the game. Deja Jones finally got SEMO on the board with a lay in at the 2:32 mark.
 
Ball State started the game just as slow, but both teams began to find a rhythm on the offense at the end of the quarter.
 
The Redhawks trailed 15-10 at the end of one.
 
The Cardinals began the second quarter on a 9-0 run, grabbing a quick double digit lead. Ball State's rhythm continued throughout the quarter as they hit 9-13 shots in the period while Southeast had eight turnovers in the quarter.
 
Ball State led 39-19 at halftime.
 
SEMO scored a quick five points to start the third quarter but Ball State had an answer for everything Southeast kept bringing to the table. The Cardinals used a 10-0 towards the end of the quarter to extend their lead to over 20 points.
 
Southeast trailed 57-30 after three quarters.
 
The Redhawks played much better in the fourth quarter, opening with a 7-0 run and chipping away at the lead throughout the period. Southeast cut it to just 11 points with 2:48 left, but was in just too deep of a hole to start the quarter to mount a comeback, as they fell by 13.
 
Adrianna Murphy, an Indiana native, added 25 points including five three-pointers in her homecoming game, both career highs. This marks back to back games Murphy has set a new career high in both points and three-pointers made.
 
Ashton Luttrull had a nice game off the bench with 13 points and six rebounds.
 
Southeast will finish off its road stretch on Sunday versus the 7-1 Kansas Jayhawks. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at the Allen Fieldhouse.