Southeast women grab first OVC victory

The Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team played one of its best first halves of the season.

That was just enough for the Redhawks to squeeze out their first Ohio Valley Conference win.

Southeast saw a 17-point lead evaporate, but the Redhawks made enough plays down the stretch to knock off visiting Tennessee Tech 61-56 on Saturday.

"We came out strong and I think we let up a little bit, but we pulled it out," junior wing Lauren Sharpe said. "We needed a win to get back on track. Conference wins are always good."

The Redhawks, winning for just the second time in their last 10 games, improved to 4-8 overall and 1-2 in the OVC. Tech is 6-6 and 1-1.

"It was good," freshman forward Bailie Roberts said. "It gives us confidence, knowing we can win."

While several Redhawks played key roles in the victory, nobody was more important than freshman forward Patricia Mack.

Mack had the best game of her young college career with 12 points and 13 rebounds for her first double-double. Her previous season highs were six points and seven rebounds.

"She played an outstanding game," Southeast coach John Ishee said. "She played with a great passion to win."

Mack, who entered the contest averaging 2.5 points and 3.2 rebounds, said she has been faring well during practice and is trying to get that to carry over into games.

"My first game of the season was pretty good, but I went on a roller coaster ride," Mack said. "I've been practicing hard. I need to play that way in games."

Six of Mack's rebounds were on the offensive end as she scored several baskets on put backs.

After Tech forged a 54-54 tie -- the first deadlock since 12-12 midway through the opening half -- Mack's layup off a nice pass from senior center Lesley Adams put Southeast back up 56-54 with 2:52 remaining.

There was no further scoring for more than two minutes until Mack made the play that put Southeast over the top.

Sharpe hit the first of two free throws with 23 seconds left. Her second was off the mark, but Mack somehow tipped it in, although a Tech player might have gotten a hand on it.

Regardless, Southeast led 59-54 with only 19 seconds to play.

"Luck comes through hard work," Ishee said. "That was the play that pretty much won it for us."

Tech made it 59-56 with just two seconds left. Sophomore point guard Bianca Beck's two free throws with 0.5 seconds to go closed out the scoring.

"It was very important for us," said Mack of the win.

Southeast twice led by 17 points late in the first half, and the Redhawks carried a 40-27 advantage into the break. The Redhawks shot 61.5 percent from the field in the opening period and held Tech to 38.5 percent, including just 9.5 percent from 3-point range (1 of 11). Southeast also outrebounded the Eaglettes 18-8.

"As a team defensively, and from an execution standpoint, that's as good a half as we've had," Ishee said. "It set the tone for the rest of the game."

The Redhawks' offense cooled off in the second half -- they shot 23.1 percent -- and Southeast had 14 of its 23 turnovers in the period. Tech also hit some 3-pointers to fuel the rally.

"I don't know if it was we let up or they were hitting more shots," Roberts said. "I'm just glad we pulled it out."

Freshman guard Jasmine Davis added 12 points for Southeast and Roberts contributed nine, all in the first half. Sharpe tied her career high with seven steals.

Tech sophomore forward Krystal Stirrup led all scorers with 21 points.

"You've got to take care of business at home just to have a fighting chance [in the OVC]," Ishee said.

Southeast has another conference home game Monday against Jacksonville State.