Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team's OVC tourney hopes take hit with 85-55 rout

It's doubtful the Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team wants to see Tennessee-Martin again any time soon.

UTM blistered the Redhawks in both meetings this season, including Saturday's 85-55 romp at the Show Me Center in Southeast's home finale.

That came one month after the Skyhawks routed Southeast 92-62 in Martin, Tenn.

"They definitely can score," Southeast sophomore center Courtney Shiffer said. "They have so many good shooters."

The Skyhawks (17-10, 12-4), who feature nine freshmen, including two of the nation's top freshmen scorers, remained tied for second in the 10-team Ohio Valley Conference.

"They're a really good team," Southeast coach John Ishee said.

Southeast (8-18, 4-12) is in a three-way tie with Murray State and Tennessee State for seventh place. The top eight finishers make the conference tournament.

"We've basically got two play-in games," said Ishee, whose squad finishes its league schedule at Tennessee State on Thursday and Austin Peay on Saturday.

The Redhawks, who have been short-handed all season due to injury and illness, suffered their third straight loss, including the last two at home.

All three defeats have been lopsided -- by 49 points at Morehead State, by 20 points against Murray State and now by 30 points against UTM.

"I thought our kids competed really hard," Ishee said about Saturday's game. "We did some good things."

UTM has nine freshmen on its 14-player roster. Four of those rookies started Saturday, with two ranking among the OVC's top three scorers.

"It's impressive what they're doing with so many freshmen," Ishee said.

There were six lead changes and two ties in the early going, but it didn't take long for the OVC's highest-scoring team that averages nearly 72 points per game to gain control.

The Skyhawks hit 7 of their first 11 3-point attempts to build a 26-16 lead about eight minutes into the contest.

Southeast never got closer than that as the deficit steadily grew.

The Redhawks trailed 50-24 late in the first half and it was 50-29 at halftime. The Redhawks scored the first four points of the final period to complete a 9-0 run and pull within 50-33.

UTM answered with eight straight points to make it 58-33, and the margin never dipped under 21. The Skyhawks' biggest advantage was 33 points.

"They're a real smart team. They're a good shooting team," Southeast sophomore guard Erika Lane said.

The Skyhawks, who lead the OVC in 3-point accuracy (34 percent) and 3-pointers made, bombed in 16 of 34 from beyond the arc for a sizzling 45.2 percent.

UTM set a school record with 17 3-pointers during its previous game, Thursday's overtime loss at Eastern Illinois.

"They can really spread you," Ishee said. "They get great ball movement."

Freshman guard Heather Butler, the OVC's No. 2 scorer, matched her average with 19 points.

Freshman guard Jasmine Newsome, the OVC's No. 3 scorer with a 17-point average, scored just six points.

But Jaclissa Haislip, yet another freshman guard, picked up the slack with 18 points on 6-of-7 3-point shooting.

Lane paced Southeast with 13 points and five assists.

Shiffer and sophomore guard Shelah Fields both added 10 points.

Junior forward Amber Holmes, who normally sees little action, made a rare start and performed well with four points, six rebounds and two blocks in a career-high 34 minutes.

"Amber played the best game of her career," Ishee said.

Southeast has its final nonconference game of the year Monday at SIU-Edwardsville, which joins the OVC next season.