CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Jaliyah Green scored a game-high 21 points and Southeast Missouri (12-14, 7-8) upended Ohio Valley Conference co-leader Eastern Illinois (20-5, 13-2), 62-57, Thursday night at the Show Me Center.
 
SEMO handed EIU only its second loss in Ohio Valley Conference play and claimed its third-consecutive victory along the way. With the loss, the Panthers also drop to second in the league standings behind Little Rock.
 
The Redhawks led for 32:36 of the contest and didn't let up against the Panthers.
 
SEMO took control of the momentum early and shot 51.9 percent (14-of-27) from the field en route to a 36-32 halftime lead.
 
Three players nearly reached double figures and seven different Redhawks scored in a balanced opening 20 minutes of basketball. 
 
Green's jumper gave the Redhawks an 18-11 lead with 2:54 remaining in the first quarter. Trailing by one in the final minutes of the second quarter, SEMO scored the last five points with the help of a 3-pointer by Henderson and layup by Green to regain a four-point edge at the intermission.
 
In the third quarter, SEMO opened a double-digit lead behind a 10-2 run. Green started the surge with a 3-pointer before Kennedi Watkins scored the next four points. Kori Tomlin's 3-pointer finished off the jaunt to give the Redhawks a 48-38 advantage at the 4:44 mark.
 
EIU managed to get within six with a little under eight minutes left in the game, but Green answered with another 3-pointer to push SEMO's lead to 54-45 with 6:34 to go.
 
The Panthers then used a 9-0 run to tie the game at 54-54 with 3:28 left to play.
 
SEMO, however, withstood the late EIU rally when Green made a layup when the Panthers held a one-point edge. The Redhawks defense clamped down to get four stops, including one on a turnover.
 
A missed layup by Hannah Purcell later resulted in a layup for Watkins as SEMO widened its margin to 59-56 with 1:06 to go. 
 
Green was fouled with 12.7 seconds and made two free throws before Henderson went to the line and split a pair to put SEMO ahead, 62-57, with 10.9 seconds.
 
SEMO shot 42.6 percent (23-of-54) from the field and made nine 3-pointers. 
 
Green shot 6-of-12 from the field to lead the way. Henderson and Watkins followed with 12 points apiece.
 
EIU was led by Miah Monahan's 19 points.
 
SEMO hosts Southern Indiana in its final home game of the season Saturday. Start time is 2 p.m., CT. Seniors Tomlin, Tamia Stallings and Sophie Bussard will be honored prior to tip-off. For tickets, call (573) 651-2113 or purchase online at SEMORedhawks.com/Tickets.