Redhawks Late Rally Falls Short to Eastern Kentucky, 82-72, Thursday

Thursday, February 18

Cape Girardeau, Mo.

6 p.m.

Southeast Missouri State University

13-9, 11-6OVC

Eastern Kentucky

8-11, 7-8OVC

Team	1	2	3	4	F
Eastern Kentucky	31	20	12	19	82
Southeast Missouri	24	13	15	20	72

Final Statistics

Photo by: Charlie Balcom

2/18/2021 9:38:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Final Statistics

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Tesia Thompson registered a double-double of 31 points and 11 rebounds as Southeast Missouri women's basketball (13-9, 11-6 OVC) couldn't finish the comeback and fell to Eastern Kentucky, 82-72, Thursday evening at the Show Me Center.

Thompson finished 12-for-27 from the field and 7-for-8 at the charity stripe for her seventh double-double of the season and 25th in her career.

Roshala Scott chipped in 16 points with five rebounds and three assists for second on the Redhawks. She shot 6-for-13 on field goals and was 25-percent from 3-point distance.

Eastern Kentucky grew its advantage to 21 points, 61-40, with 3:49 left in the third frame before SEMO mounted its response.

The Redhawks pulled within three late in the final quarter (75-72) on a 3-pointer by Taelour Pruitt before the Colonels sealed the win with a 7-0 run to close the game.

Eastern Kentucky jumped out to a 9-0 lead to start the game. Bria Bass knocked down a 3-pointer to extend the Colonels advantage to 19-10 with 4:35 to play in the first.

Thompson then hit a jumper before sinking consecutive free throws to cut the edge to 29-24.

In the second quarter, Kynnedy Azubika added a lay-up to push the EKU lead to 45-30. Anysa Jordan then converted both of her free throws to make the margin, 51-33.

SEMO closed out the first half with baskets from Scott and Deanay Watson to cut the deficit to 51-37 heading to the locker room.

Azubika then buried a 3-pointer with 5:06 remaining in the third quarter to make the EKU advantage, 60-40.

Trailing 63-50 at the start of the fourth quarter, SEMO utilized a 6-0 run with baskets by Thompson to bring SEMO within four, 65-61.

Scott then notched a lay-up to keep it a two-possession game, 71-67, with 3:49 left in regulation.

Pruitt added her trey with 1:20 remaining to pull SEMO within three, 75-72.

SEMO shot 41 percent in the game behind a clip of 64 percent in the final quarter.

Watson concluded the game with a career-high eight points and nine boards in her first career start at SEMO. The junior from Bradenton, Florida, was 3-for-4 from the field and 2-for-4 at the charity stripe.

SEMO outrebounded the Colonels, 38-28.

Eastern Kentucky shot 52 percent from the field including a rate of 45 percent from beyond the arc. The Colonels posted a mark of 62 percent in the first half (67 percent first quarter), knocking down half of their 3-pointers (4-8).

EKU tallied a free throw mark of 84 percent compared to SEMO's 70 percent.

Kendall Wingler posted 20 points and led a Colonels contingent of five players in double-figures. Jayla Johnson poured in 14 while Alice Recanati and Jordan each had 13. Bass finished with 11.

SEMO next hosts Morehead State Saturday on Senior Day at the Show Me Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m., CT. The Redhawks will recognize its seniors, LaTrese Saine and Tesia Thompson at the conclusion of the game ahead of the men's tilt.