MURRAY, Ky. – Deanay Watson posted 14 points and Roshala Scott added 12 but it wasn't enough as Southeast Missouri women's basketball (4-8, 0-1 OVC) fell to Murray State (9-3, 1-0 OVC), 82-58, in its Ohio Valley Conference opener Thursday at the CFSB Center. 
 
Katelyn Young led three Racers scoring in double figures with a career-best 31 points. Young was a perfect 13-for-13 from the free throw line. Lex Mayes chipped in 13 points and Hannah McKay finished with 11. 
 
Watson hit consecutive baskets to provide the Redhawks an early 4-0 lead.
 
Kori Tomlin who made her third-straight start, hit a triple to provide SEMO a 12-9 advantage with 4:57 left in the opening quarter. She tallied five points and two boards Thursday. 
 
Mayes then hit a 3-ptr to spur a 9-0 Murray State run as the Racers pulled ahead 20-14. 
 
Pruitt added a lay-up to cut the deficit to 20-16 heading to the second quarter. 
 
Pruitt registered seven points through the opening 10 minutes in her return to the starting lineup. She finished with nine points Thursday.
 
McKay then split a pair of free throws to increase the Murray State lead to 34-24 with 4:33 left in the second frame. 
 
Mayes' trey at the 2:58 mark pushed the edge to 37-26. 
 
Young converted a pair of free throws to make the Murray State advantage, 44-31, its largest of the half with 21 ticks left in the second quarter. 
 
The Racers went to the break with a 44-33 advantage. Murray State outscored SEMO, 24-17, in the second quarter to widen their lead.
 
Watson had eight of her 14 points in the opening 20 minutes.
 
Watson, Kennedi Watkins and Halle Smith were all in foul trouble with three each through the opening 20 minutes of play. SEMO committed 17 fouls in the first half compared to five for Murray State. 
 
The Racers finished the contest 21-for-23 at the charity stripe and missed two free throws in the second quarter. SEMO shot 87.5 percent from the free throw line. 
 
SEMO commenced the third quarter on a 6-3 run to cut the Racers margin to 47-39. Scott had four points during the sequence, opening and closing the rally with jumpers. 
 
Young tallied consecutive lay-ups to widen the gap to 57-43 at 3:39 in the third quarter. 
 
Cayson Conner then buried a three after a bucket by Alexis Burpo to increase the lead to 62-45. 
 
The Racers then went to the fourth quarter with a 66-47 edge after a 22-14 third stanza. 
 
Murray State took its largest lead of the evening, 78-52, after a basket by Young with 4:21 left in regulation. The Racers outscored the Redhawks, 16-11, in the final quarter. 
 
SEMO shot 41 percent from the field including .500 in the second quarter. The Racers in comparison, hit at a clip of 45 percent behind a 60 percent first period. 
 
Murray State was 5-for-17 from distance while SEMO only converted three of its 13 attempts. 
 
Watson shot 7-for-13 from the field and grabbed eight boards with a steal. Scott converted 6-for-11 on baskets.
 
Smith added eight points, shooting 2-for-2 from the field and 1-for-1 on triples.
 
Jaliyah Green and Watkins both returned to the court for the Redhawks after missing the past four games with injuries. Green posted six points off the bench. Watkins finished with a career-high two blocks before fouling out. 
 
The Redhawks next return home and ring in 2022 against Austin Peay on Saturday. First tip is 2 p.m, CT at the Show Me Center.