Redhawks' comeback falls short

The Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team nearly posted its third major comeback victory of the season.

Instead it was host SIU Carbondale that notched its first win after a controversial finish Wednesday night.

The squads were tied 57-57 when Southeast was whistled for a foul about 60 feet away from the basket with 0.5 seconds left.

SIU sophomore guard Cartaesha Macklin made the first free throw and intentionally missed the second, giving the Salukis a 58-57 victory in Carbondale, Ill.

Southeast fell to 4-5 and SIU improved to 1-6.

"It's a very frustrating way to end the game," Southeast coach Ty Margenthaler said.

Despite being on the short end of the final foul call, Southeast had a chance to put the game away earlier.

Southeast, which has already won twice this season when trailing by double figures at halftime, lagged 27-22 at the break Wednesday.

The Redhawks fell behind 33-22 early in the second half as SIU matched its biggest lead of the night.

a turnover and freshman guard Rishonda Napier hit a runner with nine seconds remaining for a 57-57 tie.

The Redhawks turned the ball over again trying to move up the court with the clock winding down. Macklin intercepted a pass and was fouled with less than one second to play, which led to her winning free throw.

"The team responded from a deficit and took a lead. I give the team credit," Margenthaler said.

SIU led virtually the entire first half, the lone exception being when Southeast went ahead 3-2 early.

The Salukis built a 15-5 advantage less than eight minutes into the game and led 21-10 with under four minutes left. A late surge cut the deficit to 27-22 at the break.

"I talk to our players every day that we need to come out ready on the road. We are a different team on the road," Margenthaler said.

Southeast, after falling behind 33-22 early in the second half, took its first lead since 3-2 on junior college transfer point guard Jordan Hunter's layup that made it 38-37 with 13 minutes, 31 seconds left.

Four ties and four lead changes ensued before the Redhawks appeared to take control.

Junior forward Patricia Mack's layup with two minutes remaining put Southeast up 55-53. Neither squad scored for more than a minute before Hunter made two free throws with 44 seconds left for a 57-53 advantage -- matching the Redhawks' biggest lead of the night.

But the Redhawks could not close things out.

"I felt confident we would win that game but we didn't do enough to win down the stretch," Margenthaler said.

Hunter led Southeast with 17 points. Sophomore guard Allyson Bradshaw added 14 points.

Mack grabbed 11 rebounds, marking the third straight game she has been in double figures.

Southeast, after shooting 23.3 percent in the first half, shot 41.9 percent in the second half and finished at 32.8 percent. The Redhawks were just 4 of 19 from 3-point range (19 percent).

SIU shot 34.5 percent for the game and made 4 of 14 from beyond the arc (28.6 percent).

Southeast, which has played two of its first nine games at home, plays five of its next seven at the Show Me Center beginning Saturday when Western Illinois visits for a 3 p.m. tipoff.