Redhawks Fall to Eastern Illinois, 51-49, Saturday in Close Contest

Saturday, January 30

Cape Girardeau, Mo.

2 p.m.

Southeast Missouri State University

9-6, 7-3OVC

Eastern Illinois

8-9, 6-6OVC

Team	1	2	3	4	F
Eastern Illinois	9	12	17	13	51
Southeast Missouri	15	7	18	9	49

Photo by: Marc Mahnke

1/30/2021 8:21:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Final Statistics

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Kira Arthofer hit a jumper with 16 seconds left in regulation Saturday to push Eastern Illinois (8-9, 6-6 OVC) past Southeast Missouri women's basketball (9-6, 7-3 OVC), 51-49, Saturday afternoon at the Show Me Center.

With SEMO up three with just under two minutes left in regulation, Taylor Steele converted a 3-pointer to knot the contest at 49-49 before Arthofer's game-winning basket.

Arthofer was fouled on the attempt and missed her free throw to complete the three-point play.

On the ensuing possession, Arthofer was fouled once more before missing a pair at the charity stripe.

SEMO took a timeout before an inbounds play in an attempt to tie the game. Thompson caught the inbounds pass but missed on her look as the tilt concluded.

The Redhawks held a slight 22-21 edge on Eastern Illinois at the break in a game that featured 10 ties and three lead changes.

SEMO jumped out to a 10-3 lead in the opening quarter. Sophie Bussard knocked down a basket before consecutive layups by Thompson at the 4:56 mark.

Roshala Scott then split a pair of free throws for the 10-point advantage (15-5) with 41 seconds left in the quarter.

Eastern Illinois concluded the frame on a 4-0 run with buckets by Lariah Washington and Arthofer to pull within six.

The Panthers then tied the game at 17-17 with 5:28 left in the first half, after a pair of free throws by Washington.

SEMO regrew its margin to five (22-17) before EIU made it a one-point game right before halftime (22-21).

The Redhawks regrouped and posted an 18-17 third quarter. Sophie Bussard registered 12 of her 14 points in the third as SEMO connected on a 41 percent clip. She also had a career-best tying nine boards, nearly missing the double-double.

Bussard converted a three-point play to extend the SEMO edge to 29-24 with 8:19 in the third.

A 7-0 run by the Panthers retied the game at 31-31. SEMO ended the quarter on a 5-3 spurt to set up the final quarter with the scoreboard reading 40-38.

EIU then outscored the Redhawks for the first time Saturday with a 13-9 final quarter.

The Panthers concluded a scoreless streak by both teams with a pair of free throws from Washington to tie the game at 40-40 with 5:49 remaining in the fourth.

Terri Smith banked in a layup to give the Redhawks a 42-40 edge in the seesaw affair.

SEMO and EIU both finished 31 percent from the field. The Redhawks missed all 12 of their 3-pointers in the game.

The Redhawks outrebounded EIU, 46-32.

Thompson tallied a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds. LaTrese Saine chipped in 10 boards to complement seven points and four blocks. Smith posted a personal-best six boards.

Washington's season-high 24 points led the Panthers. Arthofer finished with a career-high of 15.

SEMO lost to Eastern Illinois for the first time since 2016-17.

The Redhawks next head to UT Martin Monday. Tip-off is slated for 4 p.m., CT from the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center in Martin, Tennessee. The game will be televised on ESPNU.