SEMO womens basketball began their three game homestand with a defeat against the Western Illinois Leathernecks 70-59 on Saturday, Feb. 3.

SEMO previously traveled to Macomb, Illinois to compete with Western Illinois and defeated the Leathernecks 72-66 on Jan. 4.

Junior guard Jaliyah Green led the Redhawks with 19 points, while junior guard Kiyley Flowers was named player of the game finishing with 16 points, four assists and two steals.

The Redhawks started off strong with senior forward Julia Simon, winning the tip off. The game went back and forth for the first half until SEMO fell behind towards the end of the second quarter, trailing by nine at halftime.

To start the third quarter SEMO came out strong and were able to close the gap to only one point, but were never able to take the lead.

Coach Patterson said foul trouble forced the Redhawks out of sync early in the game.

“I think we got in foul trouble and that changed our composure and our poise and how we were playing,” Patterson said. “We battled back in the third, made it a ball game, With, what was a one point ball game with the ball, and then went down the stretch, like you gotta be able to make shots. You gotta put the ball in the hole.”

The Redhawks had a tough night from beyond the arc, shooting 25.9% from three point range.

“We settled for threes. We shot 27 three’s, we shouldn’t ever shoot 27 threes. We are a team that gets into the paint,” Patterson said.

By the end of the third quarter SEMO was down 53-47. The Redhawks would trail for the remainder of the game, but seemed ready to get back to work for their next upcoming game. Flowers said the team working together on the defensive side is the big focus for the next game.

“Coming together more on defense. You know, go back to what we’re supposed to be doing and not have as many mistakes on the defensive end. And then keep the offensive end aggressive and just keep attacking and don’t lose that,” Flowers said.

The Redhawks get back on the court Thursday, Feb 8. at 5pm against Tennessee Tech at the Show Me Center.