CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Briley Palmer picked up her first career win as Southeast Missouri's head coach when the Redhawks beat longtime rival Southern Illinois, 70-58, Monday night.
 
SEMO (1-4) led for all but 49 seconds in its home-opening win over SIU (1-4).
 
Kennedy Claybrooks narrowly missed a double-double with 19 points and nine rebounds, while Lexi McCully and Indiya Bowen followed with 18 and 14 points, respectively to lead the way.
 
Clinging to a 31-30 lead at halftime, the Redhawks outscored the Salukis, 39-28, in the final two quarters.
 
Ahead, 49-44, SEMO used a 12-0 run to pull away.
 
The Redhawks ignited their surge by scoring the final five points of the third quarter to grab a 54-44 double-digit advantage.
 
Claybrooks scored a layup and added a free throw, while Ainaya Williams contributed the other basket in the last 1:22 of the third quarter.
 
SEMO scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter and took its largest lead of the night when Claybrooks' second-chance layup put the Redhawks up by 17 (61-44) with 6:31 to go.
 
SIU managed to trim SEMO's lead to nine with 1:35 on the clock, but that was as close as it would get.
 
Claybrooks shot a near-perfect 7-of-8 from the field, knocked down a pair of 3-pointers and made 3-of-6 free throws. She also had a game-high four assists.
 
McCully finished at 7-of-13 from the floor, grabbed five rebounds and also buried two threes.
 
Bowen scored all of her points off the bench on 7-of-16 field goals.
 
Additionally, Williams had five of SEMO's season-high seven blocks.
 
For the game, SEMO shot 45.2 percent (28-of-62) from the field and made a season-best seven 3-pointers. The Redhawks outrebounded SIU, 36-33.
 
The Redhawks forced 20 turnovers and held a 38-26 advantage in the paint, as well.
 
SEMO remains home to host another Missouri Valley Conference opponent in Indiana State Saturday.