Road unkind to Redhawks women's basketball team

The Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team never led during Saturday's 54-40 loss at the University of Texas-Arlington.

Both squads are 2-4.

Southeast pulled into one tie, at 2-2, and trailed just 12-9 more than 11 minutes into the game before the Mavericks began to pull away.

A 15-2 UTA run opened a 27-11 lead late in the first half for the game's biggest advantage.

The Redhawks trailed 30-19 at the intermission and never got closer than eight points in the second half.

Southeast shot just 23.7 percent from the field and was outrebounded 48-35.

UTA shot only 32 percent but had a big advantage from the free-throw line.

The Mavericks hit 18 of 24 foul shots compared to 7 of 9 for the Redhawks.

Sophomore forward Brittany Harriel scored 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds to pace Southeast. She had 13 second-half points.

Harriel hit 5 of 10 from the floor, but Southeast's other four starters combined to go 1 of 24.

Sophomore guard Shelah Fields added nine points off the bench, all coming in the opening period when she made 3 of 6 3-pointers.

Senior forward Shalyn Martin led UTA with 11 points and 11 rebounds. She also had two of the Mavericks' nine blocks.

Southeast begins Ohio Valley Conference play Thursday at home against two-time defending OVC tournament champion Austin Peay.