CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Carrie Shephard scored a game-high 19 points and Southeast Missouri (9-3, 1-0) used a key run down the stretch to hold off Austin Peay (9-3, 0-1) in a 79-66 Ohio Valley Conference opening win Thursday night at the Dunn Center.
SEMO handed APSU its first home loss of the season and locked down on the defensive end to bury the Governors. This is the first time the Redhawks have defeated the Governors at home under head coach Rekha Patterson.
Arielle Gonzalez-Varner scored seven-straight points to make it a two-possession game and cut SEMO's lead to 65-61 with 5:37 remaining in the game.
The Redhawks answered with a 9-0 run and outscored APSU, 14-5, the rest of the way to grab their first win in Clarksville since 2014. SEMO scored four layups during its decisive stretch, including two by Shephard.
APSU scored 24 points in the first quarter, but SEMO held the Governors under 20 for the final three frames. The Redhawks led, 37-33, at halftime after APSU scored just nine points in the second period.
Shephard's layup gave SEMO its biggest lead at 74-61 with 2:59 left before the Redhawks polished off their ninth win of the season.
Shephard scored double figures for the fifth consecutive game and 11th time in 12 starts this year. She made 8-of-18 field goals and two 3-pointers in 32 minutes.
Tesia Thompson followed with 14 points off the bench and Taelour Pruitt added 11 as the Redhawks shot 48.4 percent (30-of-62) from the field.
SEMO also outrebounded APSU, 36-29, forced 17 turnovers, collected 13 steals and held the OVC leader in 3-point field goals made to only six for the night.
Ella Sawyer led APSU with 16 points and Gonzalez-Varner finished with 15 points and nine rebounds.
SEMO won its third game in a row and has gone 5-1 in its last six contests.
The Redhawks return to action at rival Murray State Saturday.
