CAPE
GIRARDEAU, Mo. (11/29/2011) — Arkansas State sophomore forward Jane Morrill
made the most of her homecoming by scoring a game-high 19 points, but the
Redhawks of Southeast Missouri State knocked down nine three-pointers and edged
the Red Wolves 56-52 Tuesday night at the Show Me Center.
Morrill
(Scott City, Mo.) who prepped at Notre Dame High School in Cape Girardeau added
five rebounds and a pair of steals to her totals.
The
Redhawks (1-6) came into the game having hit no more than six three-pointers in
any game this season, used a three from guard Allyson Bradshaw with 1:58
remaining to break a 50-50 tie, then held off Arkansas State down the stretch.
The Red
Wolves answered with a layup from Morrill to cut the SEMO lead to 53-52, but
the Redhawks got a jumper from Brittany Harriel with 27 seconds to play and a
free throw from Bianca Beck with 18 seconds to play to set the final at 56-52.
“I think
the effort was here,” said ASU head coach Brian Boyer. “We just didn't play very smart and we just
didn't play very good at times. I thought
we played hard and battled late to give ourselves a chance. Any time you are on the road, you want to
give yourself a chance late, and we did that.
We tied it up with three minutes to go, but on our last six possessions,
we turned it over twice and then got
really good looks on the other ones, and just missed. They hit the big shot they had to have in the
end. We battled, we fought, we gave
ourselves a chance at the end, but we just didn't finish it.”
Arkansas
State trailed by just one, 28-27 at the half despite 7-of-9 shooting from
three-point range by the Redhawks, who came into the game shooting just .200
from beyond the arc on the season.
The Red
Wolves trailed 25-18 with 4:28 remaining before intermission, but closed the
half with a 9-3 run to pull within a single point. Morrill led ASU at the break with eight
points, while Mekena Randle added five points and seven rebounds.
Morrill was
the only player in double figures for Arkansas State, which also got seven
points from junior guard Ashley Olvera and five each from junior guard
Quinishia McDowell and sophomore guard Lunden Roberts.
SEMO was
led by Karly Evans' 17 points.
The Red
Wolves will be back in action Dec. 2 when they open play at the Arizona State
Classic with a 1:55 p.m. (CT) tipoff against Illinois State.
