WICHITA, Kan. (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle defined by missed opportunities at the free-throw line, the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks grinded out a 69-62 victory over the Wichita State Shockers in a non-conference women’s basketball game Tuesday night at Charles Koch Arena.

The Redhawks, who led for the majority of the contest, saw a double-digit second-half lead evaporate before using a late surge to secure the win and even their season record at 2-2. The Shockers, plagued by inefficiency on offense and a dismal performance from the charity stripe, fell to 1-4 with the loss.

Southeast Missouri State’s offense was far from smooth, but it was timely. The Redhawks built a 28-22 halftime lead despite shooting just 19 of 50 from the floor for the game. Their success came from beyond the arc, where they connected on 9 of 20 attempts, and from capitalizing on Wichita State’s mistakes, scoring 26 points off 18 Shockers turnovers.

The game turned into a tale of two halves for the Redhawks. After a slow first half, their offense found a rhythm in the third quarter, erupting for 19 points. A key sequence involved a flagrant foul called on Wichita State’s Abby Cater, which allowed Southeast Missouri State to maintain possession after free throws and extend their lead. The Redhawks carried a 47-42 advantage into the final period.

Wichita State mounted a serious challenge in the fourth quarter, chipping away at the deficit and briefly threatening to take the lead. The Shockers dominated inside, outscoring the Redhawks 34-20 in the paint, but their efforts were continually undermined by their shooting. Wichita State made only 3 of their 10 free-throw attempts, a critical shortcoming in a tight game. They also managed just 7 of 20 from three-point range.

Southeast Missouri State sealed the game in the final two minutes with clutch plays on both ends of the floor. A crucial three-pointer from Lexi McCully with 2:13 remaining pushed the lead to five, and a series of defensive stops and successful free throws in the closing seconds extinguished Wichita State’s comeback hopes.

McCully led all scorers with 18 points for the Redhawks. She was instrumental in the victory, hitting key shots from deep. She was complemented by a strong interior presence from Ainaya Williams, who contributed 14 points and was a force defensively with five blocked shots. Williams, a 6-foot-1 forward from St. Louis, Missouri, also added three assists. Raissa Nsabua provided a steady hand with 11 points and four assists, while Carmen Taylor also chipped in 13 points.

For Wichita State, Abby Cater led the way with 15 points and six assists, but her efforts were offset by a game-high six turnovers. Jaila Harding and Diamond Richardson each added 11 points in the losing effort.

The game was a statistical oddity, with both teams finishing with identical totals in assists (10) and steals (10). The difference ultimately came down to efficiency. Southeast Missouri State posted an offensive rating of 93.1 points per 100 possessions, while Wichita State managed a meager 79.7, a reflection of their 26-of-67 shooting from the field and their struggles at the line.

The announced attendance was 808 at Charles Koch Arena. The result was an upset according to Interstat’s ELO system, which had projected Wichita State with a 90.6 percent probability to win.

Southeast Missouri State looks to build on the road victory when they travel to face Arizona State on Nov. 29. Wichita State will aim to regroup at home against Cal State Bakersfield on Nov. 22.