ST. CHARLES, Mo. – Southeast Missouri (14-14, 9-8) claimed the #4 seed in next week's Ohio Valley Conference Tournament with a 67-62 win over Lindenwood (2-22, 1-15) Thursday night at Hyland Arena.
 
SEMO is heading to the eight-team OVC Tournament for the seventh time in eight years under Head Coach Rekha Patterson. The Redhawks will face the winner of the #5 and #8 seeds in the quarterfinals on Mar. 2. Tip is set for 1 p.m., CT at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana. The remainder of the tournament seeding will be determined after Saturday's action.
 
Sophie Bussard and Jaliyah Green each scored 18 points, and Kennedi Watkins added 12 leading SEMO to its fifth-straight victory.
 
The Redhawks held their largest lead of the night when they were up, 48-35, with five minutes left to play in the third quarter.
 
LU managed to cut SEMO's lead to two (53-51) to tightening things up on Mary McGrath's free throws with 7:30 to go.
 
Bussard answered with a layup and Jaliyah Green followed with two free throws to get the Redhawks a six-point advantage.
 
After a Makayla Wallace layup made it a one-point game at 57-56 with 3:42 left, Green and Watkins each scored layups of their own. 
 
SEMO then made six free throws in the final 35 seconds to put its 14th win of the season on ice.
 
The Redhawks held a 38-32 halftime lead before running their led to double figures in the third quarter.
 
Bussard made a near-perfect 7-of-8 field goals and 4-of-6 free throws, while Green shot 8-of-12 at the free throw line to go along with her five field goals. Watkins paved the way with eight rebounds and shot 5-of-12 from the floor. Meanwhile, Kiyley Flowers dished out seven assists.
 
SEMO shot 46.3 percent (25-of-54) from the field and made 15-of-25 free throws. The Redhawks forced 21 turnovers, as well.
 
The Redhawks close out their regular-season at SIU Edwardsville Saturday.