CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – A season-best four players scored double figures to lead Southeast Missouri (5-2) to a 79-65 win over longtime rival Southern Illinois (5-3) Saturday night at the Show Me Center. 

Tesia Thompson, who returned after missing three games with a concussion, paced SEMO with 16 points and nine rebounds.

In their first home game since Nov. 10, the Redhawks keyed their fifth victory of the season by making a season-high 30-of-38 (.789) free throws. SEMO outscored SIU, 30-14, at the charity stripe and that was the difference.

SEMO led, 36-34, at halftime before outscoring the Salukis, 43-31, in the second half.

The Redhawks outscored SIU, 23-6, at the free throw line alone. Taelour Pruitt's two free throws gave SEMO its largest lead with 35 seconds left.

Thompson shot 4-of-9 from the field and 8-of-11 at the free throw line to lead the Redhawks. Pruitt followed with 15 points and a career-high 8-of-8 free throws.

Jocelyn Taylor and LaTrese Saine added 13 and 12 points, respectively.

SEMO got a nice boost from its bench which contributed 47 points for the night. The Redhawks also scored 20 points off turnovers.

Gabby Walker scored 15 points off the bench to lead the Salukis who also had four players score double-digits. Abby Brockmeyer had 13 points, Kristen Nelson notched 11 and Makenzie Silvey finished with 10 behind Walker. 

SEMO improved to 3-0 at home this season and played on its homecourt for the first time since Nov. 10.

The Redhawks will hit the road for their next three games, beginning at Ole Miss on Dec. 14.