Women's Basketball Posts 66-60 Win Over Tennessee Tech :: Rachel Blunt tallied a game-high 17 points in leading Redhawks to end five-game losing skid

Rachel Blunt tallied a game-high 17 points in leading Redhawks to end five-game losing skid

Dec. 8, 2007

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Junior forward Rachel Blunt (Dexter, Mo./Dexter) notched a game-high 17 points as Southeast Missouri State snapped a five-game losing streak here tonight with a 66-60 victory over visiting Tennessee Tech in an Ohio Valley Conference women's basketball contest at the Show Me Center. The Redhawks even their season record to 5-5 (1-1) while the Golden Eagles fell to 1-6 (0-2) on the year.

The Golden Eagles began the game with a pair of layups from senior Kristina Tyler to capture an early 4-0 lead at the 18:55 mark. Blunt and junior guard Tarina Nixon (Gilbert, Ariz./Highland) each scored four points in a 10-0 Southeast run over a five-minute span as the home team went ahead by a 10-4 score. Tech then scored 15 of the next 17 points in a stretch of 5:32 as junior Blair Bowens scored five points in the run to claim a 19-14 advantage at the 7:35 mark. The Redhawks later sliced their deficit to at 33-29 with 55 seconds left in the stanza after a five-point barrage from junior guard Szandra Pál (Budapest, Hungary/Vorosmarty Mihaly), but a three by senior Cara Reed at the 39-second mark closed the scoring as Tech entered the break with a 36-29 lead.

Tech produced 11 of the second half's first 20 points in the first five minutes to take its biggest lead of the game at 47-38 with seven points coming from junior Meagan Lyons. Junior guard Tierra Johnson (Poplar Bluff, Mo./Three Rivers CC) drained two three-pointers that sparked a 12-0 run by the Redhawks in a five-plus minute stretch to capture a 50-47 lead with 9:04 remaining in the game. A Nixon jumper later handed Southeast its biggest lead of the game at 61-52 with 3:01 left.

Four straight free throws brought Tech to within three at 61-58 at the two-minute mark, but the Redhawks connected on five of six from the charity stripe to increase their lead to 66-58 before a layup from junior Allison Price posted the final margin.

Blunt also contributed five rebounds and two steals while connecting on 7-of-8 from the free-throw line for Southeast. Nixon added several season-high numbers with 16 points, six rebounds and five assists in addition to posting a career-best two blocked shots. Senior guard Ashley Lovelady (Elkhart, Ind./Moberly Area CC) produced 11 points, four assists, three rebounds and three steals, while Johnson finished with 10 points and season-best five boards.

Lyons paced Tech with 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting with five caroms and three assists, while Reed notched 10 points. Tyler finished with eight points and a game-high eight rebounds for the Golden Eagles.

The Redhawks are back in action after finals week when they begin a two-game road swing through Alabama beginning at Samford on Dec. 18 with a start time of 5 p.m.