CAPE GIRARDEA, MO (SEMO ATHLETICS) -- Latrese Saine notched a career-best 27 points coupled with 15 rebounds and seven blocks to lead Southeast Missouri women's basketball (9-5, 7-2 OVC) to a 77-62 victory over SIUE (5-10, 2-8 OVC) Thursday night at the Show Me Center.
Saine was 12-for-16 from the field and went to the break with 14 points after an 8-point opening quarter. The redshirt-senior from West Memphis, Arkansas, has now registered a double-double in each of the last three Redhawks games and six this season.
Four Redhawks finished in double-figures scoring with Tesia Thompson chipping in 16 for second on the team behind Saine. Thompson scored 12 of her 16 points in the second half, hitting 5-for-13 from the field in the final 20 minutes. She also had eight boards.
Sophie Bussard added 13 points and Terri Smith finished with 12 in the win.
The Redhawks shot 50.8 percent as a team from the field and converted on a season-best 53 percent of their 3-pointers.
SEMO went to the break with a 33-23 advantage after a fast break play semoby Roshala Scott concluded the first half. Scott nabbed the steal before converting on the basket as the horn sounded.
With a 10-point lead in hand, the Redhawks extended their margin in the contest with a 26-18 third quarter. SEMO shot at a 66 percent clip during the frame with Saine and Thompson both tallying seven points apiece.
Smith was perfect from behind the arc in the period, knocking down all three of her attempts. Her 3-pointer with 2:13 left in the third quarter pushed the Redhawks to their largest lead of the night, 57-37.
The Cougars didn't go down without a fight, edging SEMO, 21-18 in the final quarter of play.
SIUE cut the Redhawks lead to 59-45 after a jumper by Ajulu Thatha with 9:25 left in regulation.
The Cougars would come as close as 74-64 after a trey from Sara Majorosova with 2:19 remaining.
SEMO outrebounded SIUE, 42-34. At the charity stripe, the Redhawks finished 9-for-12.
SEMO dominated in the paint, outscoring the Cougars, 38-28, in that area of the court.
Mikayla Kinnard led four SIUE players in double figures with 14 points. Allie Troeckler notched her eighth double-digit scoring effort of the season with 11 points. Ajulu Thatha and Sara Majorosova provided 10 each.
The Cougars shot 35 percent from the field as a team.
SEMO closes out its two-game homestand Saturday against Eastern Illinois. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m., CT at the Show Me Center.
