EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Roshala Scott matched a career-high 22 points to lead five starters in double figures as #3 Southeast Missouri (15-11) battled hard until the end in a close 67-64 loss to #6 Murray State (16-10) Thursday afternoon in the first round of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament.

SEMO played without two of its top scorers in First-Team All-OVC selection Tesia Thompson and Taelour Pruitt due to injury, but several others stepped up as the Redhawks nearly pulled this one out.

After MSU outscored SEMO, 22-11, in the third quarter, the Racers held a 48-41 lead entering the final 10 minutes of play.

Then, the Redhawks managed to get within a point after Scott stole the ball and scored a layup, and Deanay Watson split a pair of free throws to make it a 62-61 game with 1:20 remaining.

SEMO had an opportunity to take the lead when Scott stole the ball again and headed to the basket, but her shot was blocked by Alexis Burpo. Macey Turley was later fouled and made two free throws pushing the Racers lead to 64-61 with 33 seconds to go.

The Redhawks inbounded the ball to Scott in front of their own bench after SEMO called a timeout. Scott then attempted a 3-pointer, but her shot was blocked again, this time by Manna Mensah. Three more free throws came in the final 20 seconds to cap the Racers victory. 

SEMO put together a nice first quarter limiting MSU to just 21.4 percent from the field. The Racers made only three of their first 14 shots of the contest. 

The Redhawks took advantage of MSU's early cold spell and twice ran their lead to nine in the last 1:15 of the period. Jumpers by Watson gave the Redhawks leads of 15-6 and 17-8 on consecutive possessions. Scott closed out the quarter strong when she drove the lane for a layup grabbing SEMO a 19-8 double-digit advantage.

SEMO led, 25-16, in the second quarter when MSU pulled to within two following a 7-0 run. Sophie Bussard answered with back-to-back second chance baskets, her second putting the Redhawks ahead, 28-24, with just over a minute left.

After MSU cut SEMO's lead to two again, the Redhawks headed into halftime with a 30-26 edge when Terri Smith scored a layup as time expired.

Scott shot 10-of-19 from the field, had nine rebounds and two steals. Watson and LaTrese Saine followed with 11 points apiece. Saine, SEMO's all-time career blocks leader, also added nine blocks and six boards. 

Smith and Bussard rounded out the Redhawks double-digit scorers with 10 points each.

MSU, which was led by Turley's 25 points, outscored SEMO, 22-11, at the free throw line. Turley accounted for 10 of those makes and only missed once at the charity stripe. As a team, the Racers shot 81.5 percent (22-of-27) at the free throw line.

SEMO made its sixth-straight OVC Tournament appearance in 2020-21.