CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Southeast Missouri (12-5, 4-2 OVC) defeated Murray State (8-9, 1-5 OVC), 88-73, at the Show Me Center Saturday.

 The Redhawks outscored the Racers 31-12 in the third quarter and that was the difference as MSU never recovered..  SEMO started the second half on a 19-0 run and shot 50 percent (11-of-22) in the third quarter as MSU made only two field goals.

SEMO trailed by 10 (41-31) at halftime, but scored its 19 unanswered points to open a 50-41 lead.

The Redhawks strong second half start was much like their beginning in the opening stanza.
 
SEMO began the contest with a 10-0 run behind seven points from Taelour Pruitt. 
 
The Redhawks managed to outscore the Racers 24-1 in the first 7:30 of the second half. 
 
Tesia Thompson posted 11 points, buried a 3-pointer and made four free throws in the third quarter alone.
 
SEMO ran its lead to 84-64 following a pair of free throws by Thompson with 2:51 remaining before polishing off its fourth win in Ohio Valley Conference play.

Thompson scored 22 points and Pruitt dropped in 20 to lead SEMO. Carrie Shephard also had a double-double 13 points and 10 assists as the Redhawks shot 50 percent (19-of-38) from the field in the final two quarters. Thompson went a perfect 8-of-8 at the free throw line, grabbed seven rebounds and had three steals, as well. For Shephard, her 10 assists are a new career-high.

As a team, SEMO shot 87 percent (20-of-23) at the free throw line and outrebounded MSU by double-digits (42-32).
 
The Redhawks will open a four-game road trip at SIU Edwardsville on Jan. 23.