KOKOMO, Ind. – The IU Southeast women's basketball team defeated IU Kokomo 73-64 in a near wire-to-wire victory.

Emmy Ralph led the Grenadiers with 26 points, seven rebounds and six steals. Lauren Lambdin scored 18 points and led IU Southeast with five assists. Brynna Blackburn added 9 points on a trio of three-pointers.

IU Southeast (11-15, 7-9 RSC) gave up the first basket of the game but answered with a quick 5-0 run to take the lead. With an 8-6 advantage, the Grenadiers used a 6-0 run to extend their lead to 14-6. Emmy Ralph's fourth three-pointer of the first quarter gave IU Southeast a 19-14 lead headed into the second.

After a quick jumper by IU Southeast opened the second quarter, IU Kokomo responded with a 6-0 run to narrow the Grenadier lead to one. After trading baskets, the Grenadiers extended their lead to six after another Emmy Ralph three and a jumper by Hannah Corus. After IU Kokomo cut the lead to four, IU Southeast exploded with a 12-0 run to take a 40-24 lead into halftime.

Lauren Lambdin scored the first eight points of the third quarter for the Grenadiers. IU Kokomo used a couple small scoring runs to cut the Grenadier lead to 11. IU Southeast struggled from the field in the third quarter, which allowed IU Kokomo to narrow the deficit. The Grenadiers were outrebounded 15-4 in the third.

The Grenadiers opened the fourth quarter with three pointers by Emmy Ralph and Leah Miller to take a 59-42 lead. IU Kokomo responded with a 7-0 run to cut the lead to ten. After a Lauren Lambdin three gave IU Southeast a 65-54 lead, the Cougars used another 7-0 run to cut the lead to just four with a minute left in the game.

The Grenadiers remained calm and collected down the stretch, hitting eight straight free throws in the last thirty seconds to stifle the IU Kokomo rally. IU Southeast would go on to win the game 73-64, avenging a 25-point loss to IU Kokomo earlier in the season.

The Grenadiers lived behind the three-point line in the contest. 13 of the 22 made IU Southeast baskets came from three. The free throw line was an advantage for the Grenadiers as they connected on 16 of their 22 attempts, including going 9-10 in the fourth. IU Kokomo struggled from the line, only hitting 11 of their 21 free throws.

IU Southeast travels to Midway University on Thursday.