CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Three Redhawks finished in double-digits scoring but it wasn't enough as Southeast Missouri women's basketball (1-3, 0-0 OVC) fell to Arkansas State (3-2) of the Sun Belt, 73-65, Monday evening at the Show Me Center.
 
Roshala Scott paced SEMO with 14 points, shooting 5-for-12 from the field with three boards. Deanay Watson and Halle Smith each added 10 points.
 
For Smith, a freshman forward from Belle, Missouri, it was a career-best outing. She shot 3-for-6 from the field and was perfect on triples (1-for-1) and 3-for-3 at the charity stripe with four rebounds.
 
Watson and Kennedi Watkins each had a team best seven boards. Watkins matched her personal-best that she set in the regular-season opener against UHSP (Nov. 9).
 
SEMO didn't have an answer for Trinitee Jackson. The 6-3 junior forward led the Red Wolves with a game-high 25 points and 15 rebounds. Jackson went 9-for-13 from the field and 7-for-10 on free throws.
 
The Redhawks opened the contest with a lay-up by Smith followed by a 3-ptr by Kori Tomlin to take an early 11-5 lead at 5:01 in the first quarter.
 
Jackson registered a bucket after a trey by Jireh Washington to cut the SEMO edge to 16-14.
 
The Redhawks went to the second quarter with a one-point lead after a basket by Shymaryia Christopher.
 
The Red Wolves took a slight 31-29 lead at the break.
 
Watkins put SEMO up 20-17 with a lay-up to start the second quarter.
 
A jumper from Taelour Pruitt extended the margin to 22-17 at 6:42 left in the first half.
 
Arkansas State outscored the Redhawks 14-11 in the second quarter.
 
The Red Wolves pulled ahead 46-39 after a three-point play by Jackson at 4:43 in the third period.
 
Watson then buried a triple to start a 7-0 Redhawks rally before a lay-up by Scott tied the game at 46-46.
 
Christopher completed a three-point play to flip the lead in favor of SEMO, 49-46, with 1:55 left in the third period.
 
Arkansas State then went to the fourth quarter up 52-49.
 
The Red Wolves started the final quarter with a 6-0 run to widen the gap to 58-51.
 
Watson would cut the deficit to 68-62 after a lay-up.
 
Scott hit a 3-ptr with 34 seconds left in regulation to make the score 71-65.
 
SEMO shot 42 percent from the field including a 50 percent opening quarter and 54 percent third period.
 
The Redhawks shot 41 percent from behind the arc including 75 percent in the third quarter.
 
Jaliyah Green and Christopher each had seven points Monday. Tomlin registered a career best six points, shooting 2-for-2 from three-point range.
 
Johné Stewart had a personal best four rebounds with four points.
 
Watson led SEMO with 33 minutes of court time, shooting 4-for-8 from the field and a career-best 2-for-3 on triples.
 
SEMO benefited from 34 bench points compared to the Red Wolves who had 14.
 
Keya Patton and Washington finished with 17 and 12 points, respectively, for Arkansas State.
 
SEMO will next travel to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, for Southern Mississippi's Lady Eagle Thanksgiving Classic Friday and Saturday. SEMO will open the tournament against Mississippi Valley State Friday at 3 p.m., CT at the Reed Green Coliseum.
 
The Redhawks close their stay at the tourney Saturday morning at 9 a.m. versus Arkansas-Pine Bluff.