CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Southeast Missouri (13-16, 7-9) fell victim to a 13-3 run in the final 5:53 of the game as Austin Peay (14-15, 8-8) came away with a 74-64 victory Saturday afternoon at the Show Me Center.
 
Despite the loss, Southeast clinches a spot in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament next week in Nashville. The Redhawks will hold the No. 8 seed in the tournament and will face top-seeded Belmont in game one of the tournament at 1 p.m. on Wednesday.
 
Tied, 61-61, SEMO made just one field goal down the stretch. Bri Mitchell made that shot, but went 1-of-5 from the floor and 0-of-2 at the free throw line while APSU made its decisive surge.
 
SEMO shot under 30 percent from the field in each of the last three quarters of the game and was outscored, 47-26, in the second half. That included a 20-11 deficit in the fourth quarter.
 
The Redhawks opened the game strong, making seven of their first 14 field goals and led, 36-27, at halftime. SEMO held a 12-point lead after Adrianna Murphy buried a 3-pointer to make it 36-24 with 49 seconds in the second quarter.
 
In all, SEMO missed a total of 14 layups which loomed big in the end.
 
Mitchell led all scorers with a game-high 23 points in her final home game as a Redhawk. It was her seventh 20-point game of the season. She also pulled down six rebounds in 39 minutes.
 
Ashton Luttrull followed with 11 points and Murphy chipped in nine points, 11 rebounds and four steals.
 
SEMO shot 32.9 percent (23-of-70) from the field and scored 14 of its points at the free throw line for the game. The Redhawks finished with 18 second chance points, as well.
 
Tearra Banks recorded a double-double 21 points and 13 rebounds to lead four starters in double figures for APSU. Beth Rates followed with 18 points, Falon Baker added 14 and Keisha Gregory dropped in 12.
 
The Governors shot 60 percent or better in the final two quarters. For the game, APSU made 26-of-55 field goals for 47.3 percent.