Taelour Pruitt paces SEMO women with 21 points in win over Mississippi Valley State

SEMO guard Taelour Pruitt led the Redhawks with 21 points in an 82-76 win over Mississippi Valley State on Friday in Hattiesburg, Miss.

Photo courtesy of SEMO Athletics

HATTIESBURG, Miss. — After building a 17-point lead, Southeast Missouri State survived a late rally by Mississippi Valley State, beating the Delta Devilettes 82-76 on Friday in the Lady Eagle Thanksgiving Classic at Reed Green Coliseum.

The Redhawks built a 17-point lead early in the fourth quarter, but the Delta Devilettes began chipping away at SEMO's lead. With 3:07 left in the game, MVSU pulled within two points of the Redhawks before SEMO would pull away for good.

Taelour Pruitt paced the Redhawks with a solid all-around performance. The senior guard scored 21 points on 8-of-18 shooting — including going 3-for-9 from beyond the arc and 2-for-2 at the free throw line — and recorded seven rebounds, six assists and three steals.

Roshala Scott and Kennedi Watkins added 14 points each, with Watkins shooting 6-for-9 from the field and 2-for-4 at the charity stripe. Scott went 3-for-10 on the day — including 1-for-5 from 3-point range — but was solid at the free-throw line going 7-for-9.

Deanay Watson (13 points, seven rebounds, one steal, one assist) and Halle Smith (10 points, five rebounds, three steals) also scored in double figures for the Redhawks.

Scott led SEMO in assists with a game-high eight, and Watkins pulled down eight boards, also a game-high.

The Redhawks (2-3) continue in the Lady Eagle Thanksgiving Classic with a matchup against Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 9 a.m. Saturday.