CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Senior forward Ajulu Thatha recorded her fourth double-double of the season as the Cougars defeated Southeast Missouri 76-61 on Thursday afternoon at Who We Arena. SIUE shot a season-high 48 percent (25-52) and was 18-22 at the free throw line against the Redhawks.
Saturday's victory sealed SIUE's second win of the season and first of its nonconference slate. The Cougars improve to 2-11 overall and 1-1 in the OVC. Southeast Missouri falls to 5-8 and 0-2.
"We had incredible energy today," Head Coach Samantha Quigley Smith said. "We did a better job in the second half containing the glass. It was a great all-around effort today."
SIUE held its lead for the entire contest after KK Rodriguez took the opening three points from behind the arc. The Cougars led by as many as 25 points with a 46-21 advantage at halftime. As a team, SIUE shot 80 percent (8-10) and 2-2 from long range before heading into the locker room at the break.
SEMO answered back in the third quarter, outscoring SIUE 27-9 to cut the Redhawks' deficit to seven. However, the Cougars would respond by outscoring SEMO 21-13, shooting 45 percent (5-11) in the final period to secure the victory.
SIUE was impressive at the free throw line, finishing the contest 82 percent as a team at the stripe. The Cougars held the Redhawks to just 15 attempts from the line.
"SEMO is a very aggressive team, said Smith. "For us to hold their attempts at the line and get to the line ourselves was huge."
The Cougars had three players score in double figures, led by Thatha. She was 5-13 from the field and 9-10 at the free throw line, tying a career high in free throws made. Her 20-point outing tied a career high after posting the same figures against Tennessee Tech on Thursday. Her double-digit scoring effort marks the 23rd of her collegiate career.
Thatha capped off her double-double by collecting 14 of the Cougars' 31 rebounds, tying another career high set earlier this season against Xavier.
Sophomore guard Sofie Lowis collected 18 points in the win, knocking down 50 percent (4-8) of her attempts from beyond the arc, the most three pointers made by a Cougar this season. She finished 6-11 from the floor.
Rodriguez added 11 points for the Cougars, shooting 3-5 from the floor, 1-1 from deep, and 4-6 from the charity stripe. Rodriguez also had six of SIUE's 14 assists, tying a career high for the senior.
Mikayla Kinnard, Molly Sheehan, and Madison Webb also added eight points each.
"When you have multiple players in double-figures like we did today, it's really difficult to guard," added Smith. "Balanced scoring and sharing the basketball is key to success."
SIUE returns to action in the new year on Thursday, Jan. 5 against Tennessee State at First Community Arena. Tip-off is slated for 3:00 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.
