ORLANDO, Fla. – Kennedi Watkins registered a career-best 21 points as Southeast Missouri women's basketball (2-3) dropped a 66-49 decision to the Atlantic 10's Rhode Island (4-1) Saturday afternoon in its UCF Thanksgiving Classic opener at the Addition Financial Arena. 
 
Watkins, a Preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference Selection from Ballwin, Missouri, shot a stellar 8-for-9 from the field with a trio of steals and two boards in 22 minutes on the court. 
 
For Watkins, it was her eighth-straight double-digit game dating back to the 2021-22 campaign and her first 20-plus outing as a Redhawk. 
 
The Rams, who were picked third in the A-10 in this year's preseason poll, took an early 7-2 lead before the Redhawks went on a 12-0 run to double its advantage (14-7) at 4:07 in the opening period. 
 
Kiyley Flowers and Halle Smith hit consecutive triples to make the score 12-7 before a jumper from Watkins. 
 
Rhode Island concluded the first quarter on a 7-0 sequence for an 18-15 edge. 
 
SEMO shot a game-high 67 percent in quarter #1 to finish with a rate of 35 percent. The Rams in comparison were 61.5 percent out of the gates, wrapping the non-conference meeting at 44 percent. 
 
The Rams then took a 22-15 with 6:41 remaining in the first half. Emma Squires, a Preseason A-10 Third Team pick, added a three-pointer to increase the lead to 25-16. 
 
Flowers answered with a bucket before a trey from Watkins trimmed the margin to 25-21 at the 2:40 mark. 
 
Dolly Cairns hit a triple with 24 ticks in the first half for a 30-26 Rhode Island lead at the break. 
 
Watkins had 12 points at halftime and was a perfect 4-for-4 from the field during the first quarter. 
 
In the third quarter, Flowers and Rahmena Henderson connected on consecutive buckets to cut the deficit to 37-35.
 
Watkins then made both of her free throw opportunities before capitalizing on a steal in transition to even the game at 39-39 with 5:10 to play in the third frame. 
 
SEMO then pulled ahead 42-30 at 3:35 in the third as part of a 7-0 run. 
 
URI concluded the third quarter on a 15-1 rally for a 54-43 lead heading to the fourth. The Rams were 50 percent shooting during the quarter. 
 
Rhode Island then took its largest lead of the day, 64-47, with 3:11 remaining in regulation. 
 
Smith, who celebrated her 20th Birthday on Friday, chipped in nine points against the Rams Saturday with three boards. The sophomore from Belle, Missouri, shot 3-for-7 from the field including 2-for-3 from distance. 
 
Flowers chipped in seven points (3-for-8) with four rebounds and a pair of steals. Henderson finished with six points, a team-high nine boards and two steals in 33 minutes. 
 
Sophie Bussard grabbed five boards with two assists.
 
SEMO was 33.3 percent from distance including 4-for-6 in the opening half. 
 
The Redhawks totaled 20 points in the paint and had 17 points off Rams turnovers. 
 
SEMO's bench outscored URI, 18-14, and had a rebound advantage of 33-28. 
 
Mayé Touré led Rhode Island with 18 points as a trio of Rams finished in double-digits scoring. She was 8-for-13 from the field shooting with five rebounds. 
 
SEMO next concludes its trip to the Sunshine State against Classic host, Central Florida, Sunday afternoon. Tip is set for 1 p.m., CT Sunday at the Addition Financial Arena in Orlando, Florida.