EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Southeast Missouri (4-5) made five free throws in the final 55 seconds of the game to edge Evansville (1-7), 54-50, Saturday afternoon at Meeks Family Fieldhouse.

Adrianna Murphy, who played in her 100th career game at SEMO, scored 10 points, matched a season-high seven steals, dished out five assists and made three free throws in the last minute to help sink the Purple Aces.

The Redhawks led by as many as nine points (19-10) on Tesia Thompson's layup with 2:16 remaining a first quarter that saw UE go 2:40 without a basket.

UE, despite making a 9-2 run in the second quarter, trailed, 30-27, at halftime.

After Losmie Lutaya's layup tied the game at 43-43 with 8:29 left in the game, Thompson put the Redhawks ahead by one with a free throw. 

Two free throws by Anna Newman regained a 45-44 advantage for the Purple Aces and that was the last time they led the rest of the way.

Thompson scored a layup and later split two free throws to widen SEMO's lead to four (49-45) Two free throws by Murphy and another by Thompson followed to push the Redhawks lead to seven.

Kerri Gasper's two free throws made it a three-point game (53-50) with five seconds on the clock before Murphy scored the final point of the game at the free throw line to finish off UE.

Thompson shot 5-of-14 from the field and led SEMO with 14 points. Murphy made three field goals and topped the Redhawks with six rebounds and seven steals. Thompson (4) and Murphy (3) made all of SEMO's free throws.

After turning the ball over a combined 56 times in its previous two games, SEMO had only nine against UE today. It marked the second time this season where the Redhawks turned the ball over fewer than 10 times.

Gasper led UE with a double-double 12 points and 11 rebounds. Marley Miller and Brooke Bishop added 12 and 10 points, respectively.

SEMO travels to Memphis for its final game before the Christmas holiday on Dec. 17.