THURSDAY'S SCORES
@Southeast Missouri 71, Evansville 66
@Purdue 82,
Eastern Illinois 67
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 71, EVANSVILLE 66
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri Women's Basketball (1-1, 0-0 OVC) rallied in the fourth quarter to secure a 71-66 victory over Evansville (0-1, 0-0 MVC) at the Show Me Center on Thursday afternoon for the first victory of the 2025-26 season. The Redhawks capitalized on 18 points from turnovers to clinch the win.
Lexi McCully contributed with two layups early, helping the Redhawks to a 7-3 lead. The Aces responded with a 3-pointer from Logan Luebbers Palmer, leveling the score at 9. Avery Kelley hit a fast-break 3-pointer, part of Evansville's offensive surge, pushing their lead to 19-12. Kearra Jones connected on a 3-pointer for the Redhawks, narrowing the gap to 19-15 before Evansville finished the quarter ahead, 21-17.
The Aces' Georgia Cox delivered an early layup, then followed with a three-pointer to give the visitors a 26-22 edge. The Redhawks' Ainaya Williams responded with a jumper, assisted by McCully, momentarily putting the home team ahead. The Aces capitalized on fast breaks, with Elle Snyder converting a layup to increase the lead to 30-22. Charmen Taylor of the Redhawks scored a fast break layup, narrowing the gap to 30-24.
Williams opened scoring with a layup, assisted by McCully, as the home team gained early momentum. Evansville briefly regained their footing with Camryn Runner scoring a pair of free throws, pulling the score level at 36. Taylor sank two free throws, regaining a slim lead with just over five minutes left in the quarter. Cox closed the quarter with a buzzer-beater jumper, narrowing the Redhawks' lead to 46-42.
The Redhawks opened the quarter with Williams converting an offensive rebound into a layup, tying the game at 46. A fast break layup by Jones gave the Redhawks a 50-46 lead, prompting an Evansville timeout. McCully's layup at 2:52 extended the Redhawks' lead to 64-53. Taylor sealed the victory, scoring a layup with 38 seconds remaining to push the lead to 70-61.
PURDUE 82, EASTERN ILLINOIS 67
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Eastern Illinois women's basketball battled Big Ten member Purdue on Thursday night leading after one quarter before eventually falling to the Boilermakers, 82-67, at Mackey Arena.
Eastern Illinois led Purdue after the opening quarter as the Panthers built a 21-17 lead behind solid early offensive play from Meioshe Mason, Lalani Ellis and Ava Stoller. The Panthers connected for 60 percent from the field in the opening quarter.
EIU's shooting cooled off in the second quarter as the Panthers shot 31 percent from the field in the quarter before ending the game at 43 percent.
Purdue turned to the press in the second quarter forcing a couple of EIU turnovers that led to baskets as the Boilermakers took the lead 24-23 on a basket by Tara Daye with 8:02 to play in the opening half.
Purdue would pull out to a 37-32 lead at the half with Hila Karsh scoring 11 of her 24 points in the opening half. The Boilermakers forced eight first-half turnovers by EIU leading to eight points.
Stoller led EIU with 13 first half points, she finished with 25 in the game.
Karsch put the Boilermakers up by double figures with a 3-pointer with 5:12 left in the third quarter and Purdue led by ten after three quarters, 59-49.
The Panthers would cut the lead down to single digits several times in the fourth quarter including down to seven points on free throws by Stoller with 7:40 left to play.
Kiki Smith hit back-to-back 3-pointers and Purdue was able to turn away the Panthers threat. Smith had 11 points off the bench.
EIU (0-2) had double figure performances from Ellis (16 pts) and Mason (10 pts) while Abbie Boutilier pulled down ten rebounds.
Kendall Puryear was the final Purdue (2-0) double figure scorer with 11.