Cape Girardeau, Mo. – Southeast Missouri women's basketball fell to the UT Martin Skyhawks 69-68 on Saturday at the Show Me Center in the final game of the regular season.
 
UT Martin got off to the early lead, opening the quarter on a 6-0 run. Southeast got a lot of good looks early but was having trouble converting around the basket, making just 5-19 shots in the first period.
 
The Skyhawks didn't shoot the ball at a very high percentage, but knocked down three triples in the first. UTM carried the early six point lead all the way through the period, as they led 16-10 after one.
 
The Redhawks offense really came alive in the second period, shooting over 70 percent from the field in the second quarter, scoring 20 points. However, the Skyhawks didn't give up any ground as they continued to remain in a rhythm on the offensive end, knocking down another three three-pointers in the period.
 
At half, UT Martin remained in the lead at 35-30.
 
The third period played much like the second, which both teams remaining hot on offense, continually trading buckets back and forth. Southeast cut the UTM advantage to one at the 6:48 mark but could never secure the lead.
 
Tesia Thompson had a very strong quarter for Southeast, scoring nine points on 4-5 shooting, while the Redhawks scored at least 20 points for the second straight quarter.
 
Entering the fourth quarter, UTM remained in the lead at 55-51.
 
The Skyhawks hit a couple big buckets to start the fourth, stretching their lead to eight at 63-55 with 8:17 remaining.  
 
Southeast then answered with an 8-0 to tie the game at 63-63 with 6:08 left. Both teams went quite cold from the field at that point, both teams scoring a combined three baskets over the next three minutes.
 
The Redhawks took their first lead at 65-64 at the 3:02 mark after a driving bucket from Tesia Thompson.
 
Southeast was down one with under a minute remaining when they missed a jumper and fouled Maddie Waldrop of UTM on the rebound, sending her to the line with 30 seconds remaining.
 
Woldrop split a pair giving the Skyhawks a two point lead. The next play, Tesia Thompson missed a jumper, but Iyanna McCurdy grabbed the offensive board and was fouled on the put back attempt.

McCurdy made the first, and missed the second. Southeast got the offensive rebound and was able to put up a prayer at the buzzer, but it was off the mark, as UTM would go on to win by one.
 
Tesia Thompson led the way for the Redhawks with a career-high 25 points to go along with six rebounds and four assists.
 
LaTrese Saine chipped in 12 points and five rebounds off the bench.
 
Southeast concludes the regular season finishing 14-16, 9-9 in Ohio Valley Conference play.
 
The Redhawks clinched a spot in the postseason OVC tournament, seeding along with the first game will be announced following the completion of the rest OVC games currently being played today.