CHARLESTON, Ill. – Three Redhawks finished in double-digits scoring as Southeast Missouri women's basketball (14-10, 12-7 OVC) fell to Eastern Illinois (11-13, 9-10 OVC), 65-57, Thursday at Lantz Arena.
 
Terri Smith paced SEMO with a career-best 17 points, shooting 5-for-8 including 5-for-6 from 3-point distance. Sophie Bussard and Deanay Watson each chipped in 12 points while Roshala Scott and LaTrese Saine both tallied eight points. Scott added a personal-high seven assists. 
 
Making her second career start at SEMO, Watson, posted a career-best outing, converting 5-for-9 from the field including her first career 3-pointer. The Bradenton, Florida native, also had a team-high nine rebounds and two assists.
 
The Redhawks jumped out to a 9-0 advantage in the opening quarter that grew to 11-2 after a jumper from Watson. The Panthers concluded the first period on a 4-0 run to cut the SEMO edge to 11-6.
 
EIU bounced back from its slow first quarter to go on a 6-0 run to cut the Redhawks lead to 16-15 with 5:35 before the break. 
 
Smith hit a pair of threes on consecutive SEMO possessions to provide the Redhawks with a 25-19 lead at the half.
 
Eastern Illinois benefited from a 28-point third quarter and outscored the Redhawks 46-32 in the second half.
 
A 5-0 run by the Panthers gave them their first lead of the day, 31-30, with 4:50 left in the third quarter.
 
Saine banked in a lay-up quickly after to switch the lead in favor of SEMO, 32-31.
 
The Panthers extended their margin to 39-33 after a bucket from Parker Stafford and Karle Pace added a lay-up to push the lead to 43-33 with 1:33 left in the third frame.
 
A jumper from Lariah Washington swelled the EIU lead to 47-35 with 28 ticks remaining in the quarter.
 
Consecutive treys from Smith then cut the deficit to 47-43 with 9:14 to play before the Panthers regrew their edge to 53-43.
 
Pace hit a jumper with 6:23 left in regulation to give EIU a 57-43 lead.
 
SEMO would come as close as eight, 63-55, after another triple from Smith with 2:14 remaining on the clock.
 
The Redhawks committed a season-high 22 turnovers and EIU was able to cash in 24 points off those miscues, finishing with 14 steals. The Panthers committed 11 turnovers.
 
EIU shot 45 percent from the floor including 75 percent in the second quarter and 61 percent in the third frame. SEMO finished 42 percent from the field and shot at a rate of 47 percent from three-point land.
 
The Panthers were 0-for-9 from behind the arc.
 
SEMO out rebounded EIU, 36-33, and was 4-for-6 on free throws.
 
Lariah Washington scored a season-high 24 points for the second-time against the Redhawks this season. Abby Wahl added 10 while Pace compiled nine and Stafford had eight.
 
Eastern Illinois clinched their second consecutive OVC Tournament appearance with the win. The Panthers also swept both 2020-21 meetings with the Redhawks.
 
SEMO will conclude its regular season Saturday at SIUE. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m., CT in Edwardsville, Illinois.