EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Southeast Missouri (6-6, 1-0) outlasted SIUE (5-7, 0-1), 62-52, to win its Ohio Valley Conference opener Thursday night at the Vadalabene Center.

Behind a game-high 22 points by Tesia Thompson, SEMO came away with its first victory in Edwardsville since February, 2014. It was also the first time the Redhawks beat SIUE on the road with Rekha Patterson as their head coach.

A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Thompson complemented her fifth 20-plus effort with six rebounds and eight free throws.

SEMO started strong goingt on a 12-0 run over the opening 6:45 in the game and led until late in the third quarter. The surge began with a steal and breakaway layup by Jocelyn Taylor.
 
Defensively, the Redhawks had two blocks and forced eight turnovers in the opening period. Those turnovers led to eight points.
 
SIUE put together a 7-0 run at the start of the second quarter to tie the game before Thompson made a pair of free throws. Thompson helped SEMO maintain its lead as the Redhawks made 6-of-8 free throws in the second quarter en route to a 24-19 halftime advantage.
 
The Cougars took their first lead of the night with seven seconds remaining in the third quarter when Nakiah Bell knocked down a 3-pointer (39-38). 
 
Taelour Pruitt, however, banked in a buzzer beater from long range to regain a 41-39 edge for SEMO through three quarters of play. 
 
After Jay'Nee Alston buried a 3-pointer to pull SIUE to within one (50-49) with 3:23 left in the fourth quarter, SEMO pulled away for good when it answered with a 10-0 run to put the game out of reach. The Redhawks scored half of their points at the free throw line during that stretch and added a 3-pointer by Carrie Shephard and layup by Jocelyn Taylor. Thompson's two free throws capped the surge and gave SEMO a 60-49 lead with 46 seconds left.

Thompson outscored the rest of SEMO's starters (18 points) combined. She finished at 7-of-13 from the field. Adrianna Murphy followed with seven points and four steals.

As a team, the Redhawks shot 66.7 percent (12-of-18) from the field in the second half. SEMO also forced a season-high 26 turnovers and has now forced 116 turnovers in the last month.

The Redhawks return to Cape Girardeau to host UT Martin Saturday.