Redhawks Secure Sweep of Racers with 80-67 Road Win

Wednesday, February 22

Murray, Ky.

6PM

Southeast Missouri State University

13-15 (7-8OVC)

Murray State

15-13(7-8OVC)

Team	1	2	3	4	F
Southeast Missouri State	18	20	27	15	80
Murray State	25	7	17	18	67

Photo by: Aaron Palmer

2/22/2017 9:28:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score PDF Box Score

MURRAY, Ky. – Southeast Missouri women's basketball (13-15, 7-8) defeated Murray State (15-13, 7-8) on the road Wednesday, 80-67.

With the victory, Southeast sweeps the home-and-home series with the Racers. It's the first series win over Murray since the 2004 season. It's also Southeast's first series sweep over an opponent since SIUE in 2014.

The Redhawks were led by a 25-point performance from Bri Mitchell. It was Mitchell's sixth 20-point game this season and 13^th of her career. She tied a career-best 10 field goals and grabbed six rebounds in 36 minutes.

Hannah Noe recorded 11 points while Deja Jones had 10. Noe hit one 3-pointer in the game, her 69^th of the season, setting a new single-season record for made 3-pointers.

Southeast was outrebounded in the game 43-39 including on the offensive side of the court, 16-12. The Redhawks had good rebounding coverage across the board as Adrianna Murphy and Mitchell co-led with six each and three others each had five.

The Redhawks outshot Murray State 41.4%-38.7%. The Redhawks also hit eight shots from beyond the arc. One of the biggest difference makers in the game was the Redhawks' free-throw shooting. Southeast recorded season highs in both made free-throws (24) and free-throws attempted (34). Noe and Jones each made six foul shots.

Turnovers also played a major role on Wednesday as SEMO forced Murray into 22 mishandlings, resulting in 21 points off turnovers for the Redhawks.

Murray opened the game going up 8-2 on Southeast and led the Redhawks 13-4 at the first quarter media timeout. Lakyn Gulley entered after the media and hit back-to-back 3-pointers, pulling SEMO within five, 15-10. A pair of Jones free-throws and four-straight points from Mitchell cut the lead to four, 20-16, with 2:13 to play. The opening stanza ended with Murray State in front, 25-18.

Mitchell and Gulley each had six first-quarter points to co-lead the Redhawks.

Southeast held the Racers to single-digits in the second quarter, winning the frame, 20-7. The SEMO scoring began with Dolapo Balogun converting two 3-point plays to pull within three, 27-24. Gulley's third 3-pointer with 6:06 left tied the game at 29. The second quarter ended with the Redhawks on a 7-0 run, holding Murray State to no field goals the final 5:51, allowing just a single made free-throw in that period.

Going into halftime, Southeast led Murray State 38-32.

Mitchell put up seven points in the second to lead the team with 13 first-half points and extending her double-digit point streak to nine games. Jones was Southeast's leading rebounder with five.

The Redhawks went an impressive 11-for-12 from the free-throw line in the opening half. SEMO shot 43 percent from the field (12-of-28) and hit 3-of- 8 3-point attempts (38%).

SEMO continued its run from the second quarter well into the third quarter as the Redhawks opened the period with 10 unanswered points. Southeast held a comfortable lead the remainder of the third quarter and led 65-49 going into the final 10 minutes.

Murray narrowly outscored the Redhawks 18-15 in the final frame but the Redhawk lead was too great to be overcome. Southeast found its largest lead of the game with 9:07 to play at 20 points, 69-49. Murray pulled within 12 a couple times then down to 11 but it was too late with just 47 seconds to play. Noe's record-setting 3-pointer came with 7:08 to play in the fourth.

Ke'Shunan James recorded a game-high 35 points while Bria Bethea had 19 for Murray State.

After Wednesday's Ohio Valley Conference action, the standing currently feature five teams tied for fourth place at 7-8 including Southeast, UT Martin, Murray State, Tennessee Tech, and Austin Peay. Belmont and Morehead State have each locked up spots in the eight-team OVC Tournament.

Southeast Missouri will play the regular season finale Saturday at the Show Me Center against Austin Peay. Prior to tipoff at 2 p.m., Southeast will celebrate the careers of seniors Olivia Hackmann, Mitchell, and student assistant Jade Holly.