Redhawks bounce back, dominate Evansville

SEMO sophomore Alecia Doyle (22) and SEMO freshman Daejah Richmond (1) do their pregame handshake before the Nov. 11 game against Stephens College.

Photo Courtesy of Carrie Trovillion - Freelance Photographer

SEMO freshman Daejah Richmond’s big day off the bench led the Redhawks to a 74-44 victory over the Evansville Purple Aces.

Richmond scored a game-high 14 points, seven assists and six rebounds. Sophomore Alecia Doyle and junior Jaliyah Green followed close behind with 13 and 12 points, respectively.

Richmond said her teammates were playing hard so she wanted to go out and reciprocate the energy.

“I tell them all the time, ‘when I’m driving the basket, be ready for the ball,’ because I see the floor really well and I’m looking to get it to somebody,” Richmond said.

Jaliyah Green shoots a free throw in the Nov. 28 game against Harris-Stowe.

The Redhawks dominated from start to finish, scoring the first bucket of the game and expanding their lead to 30 points. SEMO took a 38-18 lead into the halftime break and unlike the game against Eastern Kentucky held on to the lead for the win. Evansville tried to do what they could but no amount of timeouts and adjustments could stop the Redhawks.

SEMO used tough defense and stellar shooting to take home a win in dominating fashion. Redhawks head coach Rekha Patterson said the difference today was defensive intensity for the full 40 minutes.

“I think it was our defense, we continued with our ball pressure and we continued with our activity. Indiya started the game with great ball pressure, Kiyley carried us through and then Daejah finished strong with ball pressure,” Patterson said. “That created turnover scores that led to transition baskets. I think we did a better job in the fourth quarter of getting the shots we wanted, started 1-6 and it was like ‘oh my god, are we going to see the same thing we saw last game’ but we were able to execute simple things and players went and made plays.”

The Redhawks continued to extend the lead throughout the second half before ending up with the 30-point margin. SEMO finished the non-conference schedule with this win as they head into the holiday break.

The Redhawks return to the Show Me Center to begin Ohio Valley Conference play on Dec. 29 at 5:15 p.m. against Southern Indiana.