LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Southeast Missouri Women's Basketball (6-13, 3-5 OVC) comeback bid fell short on Saturday afternoon, dropping the contest to Little Rock (7-12, 6-2 OVC) by a final score of 53-47 at the Jack Stephens Center.

Guard Alecia Doyle put up double digit points to lead SEMO in scoring with 13 points, going 5-11 (45.5%) from the field and 3-6 from the stripe. The Sophomore hauled in nine total rebounds and two steals.

Freshman Guards Daejah Richmond and Indiya Bowen also notched double digit figures scoring 11 and ten points. Bowen was active on defense, sending back two shots and stealing the rock three times.

SEMO brought in 40 total rebounds and recorded ten steals and five blocks, but only assisted on two baskets.

UA Little Rock was led by Sophomore forward Faith Lee. She notched 19 points and shot 7-15 (46.7%) from the field and 4-6 (66.7%) from the line while only playing 28 minutes.

Both teams utilized their bench with 23 points coming from Little Rock's bench and 18 coming from SEMO's bench.

Bowen got the Redhawks going with a steal and score at the 8:27 mark. Then Doyle had a soft touch off the glass on the pull up to start the quarter.

With 4:56 left Richmond drove to the basket bruising through the traffic for the and-one right before the media timeout.

At the media timeout SEMO led eight to four.

After the media Little rock went on a 13-2 run to end the quarter. At the 4:30 mark the Trojans made the and-one to bring it to 7-8. Then took the led at three minutes with a three point basket by Little Rock's Tia Harvey 

During that stretch SEMO had a point where they turned the ball over four times in a row. They shot 29% from the floor and Little rock was forcing fouls going 6-7 from the stripe.

SEMO opened the second with two steals one by Richmond the other by Bowen. Richmond kicked out her steal and grabbed an assist from Megan Barton's three pointer.

Richmond was left wide open at the wing and she pulled up and knocked it down closing SEMO's gap to five points with 6:34 left in the second

At the media timeout SEMO was down by five 23 - 18

Richmond drove to the basket again from the top of the key ending on a beautiful finger roll to put SEMO down by four. 

The Redhawks went on their best scoring run of eight to end the quarter, the defense forced bad shots and turnovers leading to a 12.5% clip from the Trojans. The run started with Michaela Mayfield stepping into the lane and drawing a charge. On the next possession Kiyley kicked it out to Mayfield on the wing bringing Southeast to within one.

At the end of the quarter Doyle put the Redhawks up by one when she sank both free throws with three seconds left.

At the half Richmond had a team high eight points with two steals, the team shooting 42.9% (3-7) and 14 of their 23 points was from the bench.

During the third quarter Little Rock's Lee would make four of seven for 12 points, starting with three free throws out of the gate. Lee would then make a jumper at the 5:23 mark to put the Trojans up by four and a layup before the media timeout.

Little Rock went on an 8-0 run on a 3:00 scoring drought by the Redhawks. During the stretch SEMO went 1-7.

After the media Little Rock's Lee and Bowen traded baskets. Lee hit a turnaround jumper and Bowen hit a pull up three from deep for her seventh point.

With 1:30 left Jaliyah Green started a quick run by SEMO with a layup followed by a steal from Doyle who dumped it off to Amiyah Buchanan bringing the Hawks within two.

Bowen received a pass on a fast break and did a dribble stop then faded away with :50 left.

Both teams struggled in the fourth, SEMO scored a game low nine points and Little Rock only put up 13.

The first points by either team came at the 7:30 mark when Doyle hauled in the offensive rebound and put it back through the net to tie the ball game at 40.

At the media SEMO was 1-9 and Little Rock was 0 - 4, their only points coming from four free throws.

The Trojans first point came at 4:15 putting them up by six.

Little Rock's Lee knocked down a three then Richmond found the basket on a quick layup at 1:17, putting SEMO down by four by a score of 51-47.

The Redhawks comeback bid was alive when Little Rock's Mesi Triplet and Lee missed both of their free throws, but tough defense forced Richmond and Bowen to miss their layups.

Senior Guard, Jayla Brooks put both her free throws in the basket putting the Trojans up by six with 17 seconds left. 

In the fourth quarter the Redhawks went 4 - 23 (17.4%) from the floor, 0 - 6 from deep and 1 - 4 (25%) from the line.

SEMO only shot 27% (17-63) from the floor while the Trojans shot 35.7% (15-42). Little Rock held a huge advantage at the line going 20-30 (66.7%) compared to SEMO's 9-21 (42.9%).

Looking Ahead
The Redhawks have another short turnaround road game against the Lindenwood Lions Tuesday January 30th in St. Charles Mo. Tip off is scheduled for 5:00 p.m CT.