CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Southeast Missouri women's basketball (10-7, 8-4 OVC) held off a late rally by Tennessee Tech (9-6, 7-5 OVC) Thursday at the Show Me Center for its 10th win this season. SEMO edged the visiting Golden Eagles, 59-55.
 
The win by SEMO also halted a two-game losing skid and completed the regular-season sweep of TTU.
 
With the Redhawks leading 55-48 with 4:22 left to play, the Golden Eagles mounted a 7-0 run to even the contest at 55-55. A lay-up from Anna Jones leveled the game before a strong defensive effort by SEMO claimed the victory.
 
Roshala Scott laid in a basket off the glass to give the Redhawks a 57-55 advantage with 38 ticks on the clock.
 
The Golden Eagles then called a timeout in an attempt to tie before LaTrese Saine forced a turnover.
 
Tennessee Tech committed 19 turnovers in the game while SEMO finished with 11 miscues.
 
TTU would foul three times down the stretch to bring Tesia Thompson to the charity stripe. Thompson converted both of her attempts to push the SEMO lead to 59-55 with 19 seconds remaining.
 
Terri Smith then registered a steal to secure the Redhawks victory. She finished the evening with three along with eight points.
 
SEMO jumped out to a 10-3 advantage in the opening quarter. Sophia Hancock forced a pair of turnovers before connecting on consecutive baskets to push the lead to 8-3 with 5:26 on the scoreboard.
 
Hancock registered a career-best four steals to lead the Redhawks. She also notched personal-bests with six points and five boards in 27 minutes of court time.
 
A basket from Sophie Bussard provided SEMO with its largest lead of the first half, 15-6, with 2:14 left in the opening quarter.
 
The Golden Eagles concluded the first quarter on a 7-0 run to cut the Redhawk margin to 15-13.
 
Anna Jones then hit a jumper to knot the game at 15-15 with 8:47 left in the half.
 
SEMO went to the break with a 26-21 advantage.
 
In the third frame, both teams compiled 18 points each to head to the final period with the Redhawks leading 44-39.
 
SEMO regrew its margin to 10, 41-51, after a basket from Thompson with 6:25 left in the contest before the Golden Eagles mounted their comeback.
 
Three Redhawks finished in double-digits scoring. Thompson paced the Redhawks with 17 points, rebounding from a difficult opening half where she shot 2-for-14. Thompson ended the night 6-for-19, going 4-for-5 in the second half and 5-for-7 from the free-throw line. She also dished out a season-high seven assists.
 
Scott and Bussard each chipped in 11 points apiece. Scott was 5-for-7 from the field.
 
SEMO shot 42 percent in the contest compared to TTU's clip of 43 percent. The Golden Eagles outrebounded the Redhawks, 33-30.
 
Tennessee Tech knocked down 86 percent from the free throw line while SEMO was 8-for-11 (73 percent).
 
Jada Guinn led the Golden Eagles with 15 points followed by Mackenzie Coleman with 11. Kesha Brady and Jones tallied 10 each.

The Redhawks sported gold shoelaces Thursday in support of the Go4theGoal Foundation and their fight against pediatric cancer. 
 
SEMO next hosts Jacksonville State Saturday at the Show Me Center. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m., CT.