COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Southeast Missouri (9-14, 4-8) fought to the end, but came up short in a 71-65 loss to Tennessee Tech (14-8, 8-4) Saturday afternoon at the Eblen Center.
 
TTU made six free throws in the final 23 seconds to hold off SEMO down the stretch.
 
In a game that involved 10 lead changes and three ties, neither team led by more than five points in the second half until 20 seconds were left on the clock.
 
Jada Guinn's layup put the Golden Eagles ahead, 65-61, with 2:10 remaining in the game.
 
After Jaliyah Green's two free throws cut TTU's lead to two (65-63), Guinn and Reghan Grimes answered with two free throws apiece to widen the Golden Eagles margin to 69-63. Grimes added one more free throw to finish off the win.
 
Rahmena Henderson's eight points helped SEMO outscore TTU, 17-14, in the second quarter and get within a point, 32-31, at the intermission.
 
SEMO and TTU each scored 19 points in the third quarter setting up the decisive final 10 minutes.
 
Green made two free throws to bring the game to. 37-37 deadlock with 5:37 to go in the third quarter. SEMO then stretched its lead to 42-37 on a second-chance layup by Julia Sion a little over a minute later.
 
The Redhawks held a close lead until Anna Walker's hookshot at the buzzer sent the Golden Eagles into the fourth quarter with a 51-50 advantage.
 
SEMO led by a point twice in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter. 
 
Kiyley Flowers later tied the game at 60-60 on a driving layup with 3:35 remaining and TTU led the rest of the way after that.
 
Henderson led the Redhawks with 17 points off the bench as her team's only double-digit scorer. She made 7-of-11 from the field and knocked down a pair of 3-pointers. Henderson scored double figures for the 10th time this season.
 
Flowers followed with nine points and eight rebounds, while Halle Smith and Alecia Doyle each chipped in eight points.
 
SEMO made a near-perfect 16-of-17 free throws at a 94.1 percent rate.
 
Maaliya Owens had a game-high 18 points to lead all scorers for TTU. Walker turned in a double-double 16 points and 12 rebounds, while Grimes finished with 10 boards. The Golden Eagles outrebounded SEMO, 41-34, and had 21 offensive rebounds, as well.
 
SEMO returns to action when it travels to Tennessee State Feb. 9.