MARTIN, Tenn. (Interstat) — In a game defined by defensive grit and a decisive second-quarter surge, the Southeast Missouri State women’s basketball team snapped a three-game losing streak and avenged an earlier loss to Tennessee-Martin with a 62-52 victory in Ohio Valley Conference action Tuesday night at Skyhawk Arena.

Despite a slow start that saw them trail by three after the first quarter, the visiting Redhawks seized control with a 19-point second period, holding the Skyhawks to just 10 points to take a 34-28 lead into halftime. That defensive stand proved to be the foundation of the win, as Southeast Missouri State never relinquished the lead in the second half, methodically extending its advantage to secure the 10-point road victory.

The game’s most critical sequence unfolded in the second quarter. After Tennessee-Martin’s Zakheria Thompson, known as Zy, hit a free throw to cut the Redhawks’ early lead to 21-19 with 7:09 left in the half, Southeast Missouri State unleashed a 13-2 run over the next four and a half minutes. The burst was fueled by stifling defense and the hot hand of reserve guard Lexi McCully. McCully, who entered the game late in the first quarter, hit a trio of three-pointers during the span, including two in quick succession. Her third triple of the quarter, assisted by Raissa Nsabua with 7:56 remaining, capped the run and gave the Redhawks a commanding 34-21 lead, their largest of the game to that point.

Tennessee-Martin, which had entered the contest as a heavy favorite according to advanced metrics, struggled to find consistent offense outside of its star duo. The Skyhawks shot just 32.1% from the field for the game and managed only a single field goal over a nearly seven-minute stretch bridging the first and second quarters, a drought from which they could not fully recover.

McCully finished as the game’s leading scorer with 18 points, all coming in the first half on 6-of-11 shooting, including 4-of-8 from beyond the arc. Her offensive explosion off the bench provided the spark Southeast Missouri State desperately needed. Forward Ainaya Williams added 12 points and a team-high eight rebounds, while point guard Raissa Nsabua contributed six points, five assists and a game-high four steals, orchestrating the Redhawks’ attack.

Tennessee-Martin was led by Kenley McCarn’s 18 points, though she needed 18 shots to reach that total. Zakheria Thompson, a 5-foot-10 guard from Zebulon, Georgia, battled inside for 16 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two blocks, but the Skyhawks were ultimately undone by 35.8% shooting and a minus-9 margin on the offensive glass, surrendering 16 second-chance opportunities to the Redhawks.

Defensively, Southeast Missouri State was anchored by the presence of 6-foot-1 forward Kearra Jones, who recorded three blocks and altered numerous other shots in just 19 minutes of action. The Redhawks also won the possession battle, committing only 12 turnovers to their 16 offensive rebounds, leading to a more efficient offensive rating of 102.3 compared to Tennessee-Martin’s 82.4.

The victory improved Southeast Missouri State’s record to 9-17 overall and provided a crucial conference road win. The loss dropped Tennessee-Martin to 12-13 on the season. The Redhawks will look to build on the momentum Saturday when they travel to face Arkansas-Little Rock. Tennessee-Martin has a quick turnaround, visiting the same Arkansas-Little Rock team on Thursday.