SEMO women fall to TSU

The Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team has made participating in the Ohio Valley Conference tournament an annual rite of passage.

But the Redhawks, riddled by injury and inexperience, will miss the event this year for the first time since the 1996-1997 season.

Southeast's eighth straight loss, 76-63 to visiting Tennessee State on Thursday night, officially eliminated the Redhawks from OVC tournament contention.

It also assured Southeast (7-20, 4-13) a last-place finish in the 10-team OVC. Only the top eight make the conference tournament.

"It's very disappointing," said Southeast coach John Ishee, whose squad suffered just the program's second 20-loss season, joining the 1996-1997 group that went 5-21. "You don't practice from Oct. 15 and play 25-some games to not be disappointed if you don't make the conference tournament."

Southeast entered Thursday still alive to slip into the tournament, needing to win its final two games while receiving some favorable results elsewhere around the league Saturday.

Those results no longer matter after TSU (10-16, 7-10, three-way tie for sixth) scored the first seven points and built a 20-point halftime lead.

"We're all kind of down because we knew we had to win this to go on in the conference tournament," freshman forward Katie Norman said.

TSU shot a blistering 66.7 percent in the first half to lead 48-28 at the break. It was only that close because Southeast freshman guard Erika Lane threw in a 40-footer at the buzzer.

"Tennessee State started the game red hot," Ishee said.

The Redhawks opened the second half with a 15-2 run to make it 50-43. TSU came back with eight straight points to lead 58-43. The margin never dipped back under 10 points.

"We came back in the second half and played much better," Ishee said.

Norman paced Southeast with 14 points and grabbed a season-high nine rebounds.

Sophomore guard Bianca Beck scored 11 points as she hit 3 of 4 from 3-point range.

Freshman forward Bailie Roberts had her second collegiate double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. She added four steals.

TSU, which shot 60 percent for the game, got 15 points from senior forward Obiageli Okafor.

Southeast ends the season Saturday at home against third-place Austin Peay (11-17, 10-7).

Lone Southeast senior Lesley Adams will be recognized on Senior Night.

"We definitely want to go out with a win," Norman said. "We want to send Lesley off well."