CARBONDALE, Ill. – Southern Illinois (2-1) used a 20-point fourth quarter to get by Southeast Missouri (2-3), 67-51, Sunday afternoon at the Banterra Center.

SEMO trailed, 45-43, when Tesia Thompson scored a layup with 57 seconds left in the third quarter.

After that, the Redhawks went ice cold and did not score for the first six-and-a-half minutes of the fourth quarter. While SEMO couldn't get anything to fall, SIU blew the game open with a 17-3 run. The Redhawks first points of the final period did not come until the 3:30 mark on a pair of free throws by Taelour Pruitt. Pruitt also had SEMO's first field goal of the fourth quarter with two minutes left in the game.

SEMO shot only 18 percent (2-of-11) from the field and was outscored 20-8 in the decisive fourth period.

Both teams started slow with SIU missing its first six 3-pointers and SEMO coming up empty on six of its first seven field goals.

Payton McCallister ended her team's drought from long range when she buried a 3-pointer to put the Salukis ahead, 12-8, with a little over two minutes left in the first quarter. LaTrese Saine made a free throw and Roshala Scott knocked down a 3-pointer to tie the game at 12-12.

The Redhawks (4-of-15, .267) and Salukis (4-of-14, .286) each shot under 30 percent from the field in the opening 10 minutes of play.

After Thompson's free throw gave the game its seventh tie at 23-23, SIU closed out the second quarter with an 11-3 run to take a 34-26 lead at halftime.
 
The Salukis, who went 1-of-11 on their first 12 three-point attempts, finished the second quarter at 3-of-3 from beyond the arc. McCallister accounted for two of those makes.

Pruitt led SEMO with a game-high 19 points, her second-straight game scoring in double figures. She shot 7-of-15 from the field and did not miss a free throw (4-of-4).

Thompson followed with 13 points on just 4-of-20 from the field. She also made five free throws. Saine chipped in seven points, six rebounds and three blocks.

SIU, which outscored SEMO, 24-6, from behind the 3-point line, was led by Gabby Walker's 17 points. Additionally, the Salukis dominated the glass, outrebounding the Redhawks by a count of 49-33 (+16). Seventeen of SIU's rebounds came on the offensive end.

With its win, SIU improved to 31-7 all-time against SEMO.

The Redhawks open Ohio Valley Conference play when they host preseason-favorite UT Martin Saturday. Tip is set for 2 p.m., CT at the Show Me Center.