Redhawks use Sharpe-shooting to down UTM women

MARTIN, Tenn. -- The Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team breathed a collective sigh of relief after escaping with a win Thursday night.

Southeast was hammered on the boards and saw a 15-point halftime lead cut to five twice, including with under 5 minutes remaining.

But the Redhawks had enough at the end to hold on for a 62-54 victory as they extended their lengthy Ohio Valley Conference road winning streak.

"We're glad to get out of here with a win," Southeast coach John Ishee said. "It was a tough win, but our kids played hard for 40 minutes."

The Redhawks notched their 16th straight OVC victory away from home as they own the nation's second-longest current conference road winning streak.

"Any time you get a win it's good, especially on the road," senior forward Crysta Glenn said.

Southeast improved to 9-9 overall and 5-3 in the OVC by winning for the fifth time in six games. The Redhawks are tied for fourth place in the 10-team conference.

UTM (2-16, 0-8) remained in last place, although five of the Skyhawks' OVC losses have been by seven points or fewer.

"We knew it would be tough because they're better than their record," Glenn said.

UTM had played so many people close -- including a two-point loss to defending OVC tournament champion Murray State -- that Ishee was wary of the contest.

Ishee was really worried when Southeast's big halftime lead shrunk to nearly nothing.

"Those kids fought tooth and nail to the very end. We knew they would," said Ishee, whose squad's last OVC road loss was at UTM late in the 2006-07 season.

The Redhawks, who never trailed, broke away from a 3-3 tie by scoring 22 of the next 26 points to lead 25-7 midway through the first half. It was 33-18 at halftime.

"It never hurts to jump ahead early," senior point guard Tarina Nixon said. "Going here, it's always tough to get a win."

Sophomore wing Lauren Sharpe and Glenn played major roles in Southeast's strong start.

Sharpe, a 29.6-percent 3-point shooter entering the game, hit 4 of 4 from beyond the arc in the opening 10 minutes as she scored 12 of Southeast's first 25 points.

"I could hardly miss," Sharpe said. "I like it when that happens."

Sharpe finished with a career-high 20 points after she entered the night with a 7.3 average. Her previous career high of 16 points came in Southeast's last game.

"I'm just more confident," said Sharpe, the OVC leader in steals who added four thefts.

Glenn scored nine of Southeast's first 25 points while Nixon also had nine first-half points.

Nixon wound up with 19 points as she became the 16th player in program history to score 1,000 or more career points.

Glenn finished with 12 points. She suffered an ankle injury late in the first half, although she returned to play 11 minutes in the final period.

"At first it was a little sore, but it's feeling a lot better," Glenn said. "I don't think I'll have a problem with it."

The Redhawks also received a lift from seldom-used junior college transfer guard Daumonique Lenhardt, who had scored five points all season while playing 12 minutes in four games.

Lenhardt scored four points in 4 second-half minutes.

Southeast's normally strong defense was stout against the Skyhawks, who shot just 32.8 percent from the field and committed 21 turnovers, 15 in the first half.

The Redhawks had a 28-13 edge in points off turnovers.

UTM senior forward Phyllisha Mitchell, the nation's fourth-leading rebounder at more than 13 per game, grabbed 19 boards and scored 15 points.

Southeast was outrebounded 50-29, including 23-7 on the offensive glass.

"We knew what she [Mitchell] was going to bring it," Glenn said. "She's tough."

The Redhawks end their two-game road swing Saturday at first-place Murray State.