Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky University's women's basketball team missed its first eight shots of the second half and scored just six points in the third quarter as Southeast Missouri State University pulled out a 61-55 victory on Saturday at McBrayer Arena.
 
With the game tied at 29 to start the second half, EKU (6-8, 5-5 OVC) went 6:02 without scoring to start the period.  The Redhawks (8-5, 6-2 OVC) took advantage and pushed in front by six, 35-29.  Jayla Johnson ended the drought for Eastern with a lay-up at the 3:58 mark.
 
Roshala Scott answered Johnson's basket with a three-pointer at the other end to extend the SEMO advantage to seven, 38-31.  The visitors led by seven at the end of the third, 42-35.
 
Southeast scored the first five points of the fourth quarter to extend its lead to 12, 47-35. 
 
Eastern Kentucky whittled the deficit to four.  Emma Hacker's three-pointer from the right wing with 2:07 showing on the clock made it 55-51.  The Colonels couldn't get any closer.  Tesia Thompson countered on the other end for Southeast with an old-fashioned three-point play to extend the lead back to seven, 58-51.
 
Johnson finished with a season-best 19 points to go along with seven rebounds and two blocks for Eastern.  Wingler added 15 points and three assists.  The Colonels held Southeast Missouri to 37 percent shooting from the field and just 24 percent (4-for-17) from three-point range.  Eastern Kentucky hit on 41 percent of its shots.
 
Thompson had a team-best 18 points for Southeast.  Latrese Saine had 10 points and 11 rebounds.  SEMO turned 14 offensive rebounds into 12 second chance points and scored 16 points off 21 Eastern turnovers.
 
The two teams played to a 29-29 halftime tie.  EKU started strong and jumped out to an 11-5 lead on a lay-up from Corriana Evans.  However, the Redhawks scored the next 10 points to go up by four, 15-11.  SEMO never led by more than four the rest of the first half.  Late in the second quarter, Johnson came up with a steal and a lay-up.  Her ensuing free throw completed a three-point play and drew Eastern to within one, 27-26.  Wingler's three-pointer put the home team up two, 29-27, with 1:21 left before intermission.
 
The Colonels take to the road next week for a pair of games beginning Thursday at Tennessee Tech.  Tip-off in Cookeville is scheduled for 6 p.m.