Southeast endures UMKC's late comeback for 76-74 win

Three days after letting a big second-half lead slip away, the Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team found itself in a similar situation.

This time there would be no comeback by the opposition.

The Redhawks held off visiting Missouri-Kansas City 76-74 Thursday night, easing some of the sting from Monday's home loss to Bradley in which the Braves erased an 18-point second-half deficit.

"We said in pregame we weren't going to let this one slip away," sophomore guard Kara Wright said.

A announced Show Me Center crowd of 513 saw the Redhawks improve to 2-1. The Kangaroos dropped to 0-2. Southeast avenged last year's 69-64 loss to UMKC in Kansas City, Mo.

Southeast Missouri State guard Olivia Hackmann takes a shot over Missouri-Kansas City guard Eilise O’Connor during the second half Thursday at the Show Me Center. The Redhawks won 76-74. (Adam Vogler)

"That was a great women's basketball game tonight. I was very proud of the effort our kids displayed," Southeast coach Ty Margenthaler said. "We're getting tested by some good basketball teams. To be able to win a game like that can only help this basketball team."

The Redhawks, like against Bradley, led most of the way, including by 11 points in the first half and by 10 points with just over six minutes remaining.

Southeast appeared to be in control at 71-62 with under three minutes left when things got interesting.

Twice UMKC cut the deficit to two points, including with 37 seconds to play.

Wright's short jumper with 11 seconds left put Southeast up 75-71, but UMKC freshman guard Calli White drilled a 3-pointer with 4 seconds remaining to make it 75-74.

"We had been battling all game, going back and forth with runs," Wright said.

Senior point guard Jordan Hunter received the inbound pass and UMKC was unable to foul her until 1.8 seconds remained, which would prove crucial.

Hunter, shooting a 1-and-1, made the first free throw but missed the second. UMKC rebounded and threw a long pass into the frontcourt but was never able to get off a shot before the buzzer.

"We really stayed together as a team, especially when they made their runs," sophomore guard Olivia Hackmann said.

Said a smiling Wright: "I told Ally [junior guard Allyson Bradshaw] when Jordan was shooting her free throws that it wasn't pretty, but we'll take it."

Wright led four Southeast players in double figures by scoring 15 points. She added six rebounds and two assists.

Bradshaw scored 13 points while senior forward Patricia Mack had 12 points, seven rebounds and three assists despite playing just 22 minutes because of foul trouble.

Hackmann contributed 11 points and three assists off the bench.

Southeast also got a major lift from reserve junior point guard Yelena Rosado, who had career highs of nine points and three assists while playing 14 minutes.

Rosado had five points and all three assists in nine second-half minutes as Hunter was in foul trouble.

"It was real exciting. It feels real good," the soft-spoken Rosado said.

Margenthaler said he felt especially good for Rosado, who has seen little action during her first two Southeast seasons. Last year she scored just one point -- all season -- while playing in only 27 minutes covering eight games.

"I'm really happy [for Rosado]. It makes me smile," Margenthaler said. "She didn't play a lot the last two years, but she had a great summer. I really thought she was the spark in the second half that got us over the top."

Rosado's driving layup with just over 11 minutes left put Southeast up for good at 53-52 after UMKC had rallied from a 40-33 halftime deficit to twice take a one-point lead in the second half.

"We stayed together as a team," Wright said.

Sophomore forward Connor King grabbed 10 rebounds as Southeast won the battle of the boards 47-39.

Freshman forward Brittany Harris added six points off the bench as Southeast had a 29-11 advantage in bench points. Nine Redhawks scored.

"It's a team effort. We're getting big-time efforts from the bench," Margenthaler said.

Senior forward Kim Nezianya paced the Kangaroos with a career-high 26 points and pulled down 10 rebounds.

But the Redhawks harassed senior guard Eilise O'Connor -- UMKC's top player who averaged 17 points last year and scored 27 in this season's loss at North Texas -- into a tough night.

O'Connor, guarded by a variety of defenders, hit just 4 of 17 shots and scored 11 points.

"Our guards did a good job shutting her down," Hackmann said.

Southeast shot 42.5 percent from the field while UMKC shot 40 percent. The Redhawks had only 12 turnovers and the Kangaroos had 14. Southeast had a 38-12 edge in paint points.

The Redhawks close out a three-game homestand Tuesday against perennial power Western Kentucky. The Hilltoppers beat Southeast last year in Bowling Green, Ky.

"Another very good opponent," Margenthaler said.