Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team wins thriller vs. Austin Peay

Southeast Missouri State senior forward Erin Bollmann, who entered Saturday afternoon's game against Austin peay as a 44.4 percent free-throw shooter, laughed when she said that everybody on the team said something to her before she stepped up to the free-throw line in a tied game with just 7.8 seconds remaining.

What coach Rekha Patterson said stood out amidst all the cheers at the Show Me Center. Patterson reminded Bollmann of all the times she's come into the gym to practice her foul shots with a simple, "You do this every day."

Bollmann sank both shots and the Redhawks came up with a defensive stop in the final seconds to defeat the Govs 71-69 and snap a two-game losing streak.

"She's trying to make it not a big deal, but we all knew it was a big deal," Bollmann said with a laugh. "I told somebody the other day that free throws aren't even a thing anymore for me. I've got it because I've decided I'm just going to step up to that line like I already made it."

The game was tied 18 times, and the lead changed 24 times.

Southeast Missouri State's Adrianna Murphy moves down the court in the first quarter against Austin Peay Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016 at the Show Me Center.Glenn Landberg

The Redhawks held a three-point advantage with 1 minute, 32 seconds left before APSU standout guard Tiasha Gray drained a 3 to tie it and got a steal and scored to put the Govs up 69-67.

Sophomore guard Ashton Luttrull drew a foul before the ball was inbounded under the basket on Southeast's next possession and knocked down both free throws to tie it for the final time with 35.2 seconds left.

Gray missed a jumper in the lane on the other end. Bollmann came up with the rebound and was fouled to send her to the line to hit the game-winning free throws.

"Erin believed. Ashton believed. And everybody in a white uniform believed in those two," Patterson said. "'She believed she could so she did,' which is our theme."

APSU had one last chance after taking a timeout and advancing the ball to half court after Bollmann's free throws.

Southeast Missouri State coach Rekha Patterson calls out to the team in the fourth quarter against Austin Peay Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016 at the Show Me Center.Glenn Landberg

Gray received the inbounds pass and got off a contested 3 from the top of the key in the closing seconds but didn't draw iron. The Redhawks secured the rebound and improved to 13-9 and 6-3 in the Ohio Valley Conference with the victory.

Patterson said her players were supposed to foul with about five seconds remaining since they had one foul to give, and while the execution wasn't great, they got the job done.

"She wanted us to switch, but she wanted us to make sure that we got out on her and defended that 3-point line knowing she could put that shot up," freshman guard Adrianna Murphy said. "I think we did a great job of doing that and just staying down and making her take a contested shot."

Gray finished with 28 points, four steals, four rebounds and three assists to lead the Govs, who fell to 7-15 and 5-4 in the conference.

"She's a tough kid," Patterson said. "She plays 35 minutes and we tried to keep somebody fresh on her. I thought Adri did a good job, I thought Bri [Mitchell] did a good job, I thought Hannah [Noe] did a good job, and against a kid like that you've got to. The biggest thing is we said she couldn't have 28 points and double-digit assists, and so you've got to live with something when you're playing a talented player like her."

Southeast Missouri State players celebrate their victory over Austin Peay with the playing of the alma mater Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016 at the Show Me Center.Glenn Landberg

Southeast led by as many as six in the game. The Redhawks took a 19-13 lead with 47.4 seconds left in the first half on a pair of free throws by Bollmann. She finished with 15 poinst and eight rebounds and was 5 of 6 from the charity stripe.

Southeast led 19-15 at the end of the first quarter and was up 29-28 at halftime. The Redhawks shot 44.4 percent from the field in the first half, but committed 11 turnovers.

"We're shooting 40 percent, it's a one-point ballgame and we have 11 turnovers and they're not even pressing," Patterson said. "Eleven. We talked about if we could cut those down and we could continue to execute offensively it would be different. But I told these girls, this is not going to be a blowout -- even if we play extremely hard, extremely tough -- because this team is good. They play just as hard and just as tough and just as together."

The Redhawks scored the first basket of the second half before an 8-0 APSU run gave the Govs a 36-31 advantage. Southeast scored the next seven points to regain the lead in the back and forth contest, but trailed 50-49 going into the final 10 minutes.

Southeast pushed its lead to as much as four in the fourth quarter. Redshirt freshman forward Imani Johnson knocked down her second 3-pointer of the game -- the Redhawks finished 2 of 15 from beyond the arc -- and sophomore forward Deja Jones split a pair of free throws to put Southeast up 56-52 with 8:15 remaining.

APSU never led by more than two, which it did twice, in the fourth quarter. A pair of free thorws by Gray made it 62-60 with 4:22 left and then her final layup with a minute left that made it 69-67.

"I think it was awesome just because we had to work so hard to win that," Luttrull said. "Coach has kind of been preaching consistently play hard the whole time and we did a lot better job of that tonight. Austin Peay's a really good team. Gray is just lights out, so it was nice she hit some shots but we were able to keep our cool and keep our composure and still win."

Johnson finished with 15 points and seven rebounds for the Redhawks while Murphy had nine points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Southeast out-rebounded APSU 45-23, including 19 offensive boards, which they converted into 20 second-chance points.

"She's special, and she has a chance to be truly, truly special," Patterson said of Murphy. " Â… She has a knack for rebounding. For her to get in there and get 10 -- I mean, she's 5-3 on a good day, with a good bun that's really high. But that's hard. Rebounding's about heart and she has it."

Southeast returns to action Wednesday when it hosts Murray State for a 6:30 p.m. game at the Show Me Center.

"Proud of the fact that we played hard and tough and together for, I feel like, the majority of the game," Patterson said. "We didn't play smart with 20 turnovers, but when you play that hard and you play that tough and you have those home fans screaming for you that makes a difference."

SOUTHEAST 71, AUSTIN PEAY 69

Austin Peay 15 13 22 19 -- 69

Southeast 19 10 20 22 -- 71

AUSTIN PEAY (69) -- Sydney Gooch 4, Beth Rates 6, Tiasha Gray 28, Falon Baker 4, April Rivers 2, Brianne Alexander 9, Madison Rich 3, Keisha Gregory 11, Tearra Banks 2. FG 26-61, FT 12-17, F 22. (3-pointers: Gray 3, Gregory 2. Fouled out: None.)

SOUTHEAST (71) -- Erin Bollmann 15, Connor King 2, Bri Mitchell 8, Adrianna Murphy 9, Hannah Noe 3, Ashton Luttrull 6, Corneisha Henderson 4, Deja Jones 9, Imani Johnson 15. FG 24-59, FT 21-27, F 21. (3-pointers: Johnson 2. Fouled out: None.)