NEW ALBANY, Ind. – The IU Southeast women's basketball team fell to Simmons 96-89 in the Grenadier home opener on Wednesday.
 
Simmons scored the first six points of the game to force an early first quarter IU Southeast timeout. The Grenadiers answered with three straight threes to take a 9-8 lead.
 
An Ella Brown layup gave IU Southeast an 11-9 lead, but Simmons answered with a 6-0 run to take a 15-11 edge. IU Southeast tied the game at 15-15 and then used a free throw and a layup to take an 18-15 lead.
 
Simmons answered with four straight points to take a 19-18 lead. Two Lexi Starr free throws made it 20-19, but Simmons used a pair of free throws to lead 21-20 at the end of the first quarter.
 
Simmons opened the second quarter with a 4-0 run to take a 25-20 lead. With Simmons ahead 27-23, the Grenadiers scored six straight points to take a 29-27 lead. Simmons swung the lead back in their favor at 31-29.
 
After an IU Southeast free throw made it 31-30, Simmons used a three and a pair of free throws to jump ahead 36-30. IU Southeast extended their lead to eight at 41-33, but the Grenadiers came back to cut the lead to three at 41-38. Simmons led 43-39 at the half.
 
IU Southeast cut their deficit to one at both 45-44 and 47-46, but each time Simmons had an answer. Simmons extended their lead to five at 51-46. IU Southeast cut the lead to one possession, but the Falcons answered with a basket.
 
A Jesse Ledgerwood three cut the Simmons advantage to two at 53-51, but Simmons hit a three of their own to jump back ahead 56-51. Simmons led by as many as eight in the third quarter and took a 67-62 lead into the fourth.
 
Jesse Ledgerwood connected on another three to cut the Simmons lead to two at 67-65, but four free throws by the Falcons made it 71-65. IU Southeast was able to cut the lead to two at 71-69 and 73-71, but Simmons once again had an answer.
 
An Ella Brown layup cut the Simmons lead to two at 75-73, but a 5-0 run by the Falcons made it 80-73 with 5:40 left. Jesse Ledgerwood hit another three to make it 80-76, but Simmons answered with a layup to make it 82-76 with 5:07 remaining.
 
Leading 86-82, Simmons connected on five of six free throws to take a 91-82 lead. Simmons did not make a field goal after the 4:06 mark of the fourth quarter, but the Falcons connected on 10 of 14 free throws down the stretch to take home a 96-89 victory.

"Our girls fought tonight." IU Southeast interim head coach Derek Sims said. "They kept it close the entire game and never gave up. We haven't been in a close game this season where it's crucial to get stops. We didn't get stops tonight when needed. The opportunities were there, and we need to learn how to capitalize in those situations. I could've made some better decisions when scouting but hats off to Simmons. They earned and deserved this win."
 
Jesse Ledgerwood led IU Southeast with a career-high 29 points off the bench while also dishing out five assists and grabbing five steals. Makenna Wilson also had a career-high with 26 points. Ella Brown reached double-figures for the first time, scoring 11 points while pulling down a team-high eight rebounds. Grace Stapleton had a team-high six assists.
 
IU Southeast travels to the University of Southern Indiana for an exhibition on Friday. The Grenadiers return to regular season action on Nov. 19 at No. 8 University of the Cumberlands.