Redhawks Pick Up First OVC Win of the Season Thursday for Patterson’s 100th Career Victory

Thursday, January 27

Cape Girardeau, Mo.

5 P.M.

Southeast Missouri State University

5-15,1-8OVC

Morehead State

1-17,0-8OVC

Team	1	2	3	4	F
Morehead St.	12	16	9	16	53
Southeast Mo. St.	9	16	17	18	60

Final Statistics

Photo by: Aaron Palmer

1/27/2022 10:46:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Four Redhawks finished in double-digits scoring as Southeast Missouri women's basketball (5-15, 1-8 OVC) registered its first Ohio Valley Conference victory of the 2021-22 season, 60-53, over Morehead State (1-17, 0-8 OVC) Thursday evening at the Show Me Center.

The win marked head coach Rekha Patterson's 100th career victory at the helm of the SEMO program and also snapped a nine-game losing streak for the Redhawks.

Taelour Pruitt paced SEMO with 15 points while Deanay Watson and Kennedi Watkins, the reigning OVC Freshman of the Week, each had 12 points. Watson finished with a double-double, adding 10 boards while Watkins pulled down nine rebounds.

Roshala Scott chipped in 10 points and seven rebounds in her first start back from injury since Jan. 6 at Belmont.

For Morehead State, the loss pushed the Eagles losing streak to 15.

Morehead State jumped out to a 7-1 lead Thursday.

Scott registered SEMO's first field goal of the game at 5:40 in the first quarter to cut the edge to 7-3.

Halle Smith then converted a lay-up to even the contest at 9-9.

Jazmyn Gaines-Burns then knocked down a triple as the first quarter expired off a feed from former Redhawk Terri Smith to provide the Eagles a 12-9 lead heading to the second quarter.

Scott knocked down a triple to clip the Morehead State advantage to 15-12.

Pruitt then hit a jumper to even the game at 18-18 with 7:14 left in the first half.

The Redhawks went on a 6-0 run to pull ahead 25-20. The Eagles responded with an 8-0 rally to take a 28-25 margin at the break.

Scott led the Redhawks with eight points at halftime, shooting 3-for-6 from the field.

Pruitt knotted the game at 32-32 with a bucket before SEMO utilized a 10-0 run to widen the gap to 42-35 with 1:17 left in the third quarter.

The Redhawks took their largest lead of the evening, 53-44, after a lay-up by Jaliyah Green with 4:50 remaining in regulation.

Green finished with six points and four rebounds in 31 minutes of court time. She was a perfect 4-for-4 on free throws.

Consecutive baskets by Jada Claude and Terri Smith cut the Redhawks advantage to 54-50 with 2:15 left to play.

Pruitt notched a lay-up before free throws from Scott rebuilt the lead to 58-50.

Julan McDonald posted a three-pointer with seven ticks left in the game to make it a five-point game, 58-53.

Pruitt then went 2-for-2 at the charity stripe to conclude the game and keep the Eagles at bay.

Pruitt, Watkins and Scott each had four steals as the Redhawks totaled a season high 17. SEMO cashed in 26 points off Morehead State turnovers Thursday.

Southeast Missouri only committed 14 turnovers compared to Morehead State's 25.

The Redhawks also outscored the Eagles, 34-26, in the paint and 16-4 off the fast break.

SEMO shot 34 percent from the field including 37 percent in the third and 42 percent in the fourth. The Eagles were 21-for-61 from the field including 42 percent in the final quarter.

The Redhawks were also 70 percent at the charity stripe including 3-for-4 in both the first and third periods.

Pruitt shot 5-for-11 and 4-for-4 on free throws with two assists.

Watson appeared in a game-high 38 minutes, going 5-for-14 from the field. The double-double was the fourth in her career and her second straight game with the feat.

Watkins finished 5-for-13 shooting for her fifth-straight double-digit game.

Smith grabbed six rebounds to complement three points.

Kori Tomlin dished out three assists while Watkins, Green and Pruitt each had two.

The Redhawks next conclude their week Saturday against SIUE at the Show Me Center. Tip set for 2 p.m., CT.