Southeast Missouri State women's basketball coach says schedule tough but fair

The Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team will get to test itself against every other Division I squad in the state this season.

Second-year coach Ty Margenthaler couldn't be happier about that setup, which is part of the Redhawks 2012-13 schedule released Tuesday.

Southeast will host Missouri State and St. Louis University while visiting Missouri and Missouri-Kansas City.

"I think that's great for our program," Margenthaler said. "It gives us a chance to start some great rivalries. We're trying to build our fan base and get our name out around the state."

The 29-game regular-season schedule features 13 home contests. Other nonconference home dates are against Wright State, Illinois-Chicago and Western Illinois.

Other nonleague road opponents are Kansas, Arkansas State, SIU-Carbondale and Western Kentucky in addition to a tournament in Houston that will feature two games against opponents still to be determined.

"It's a tough schedule, but I think it's fair," Margenthaler said. "Our staff put together a challenging yet winnable nonconference schedule."

Margenthaler is excited to play nearby SIU-Carbondale, an opponent the Redhawks' have not faced on a regular basis in recent years.

"I think that's just a win-win. It makes sense," he said.

The Redhawks open the season Nov. 9 at home against Wright State, followed by six straight games away from the Show Me Center.

Southeast has one home exhibition game, Nov. 4 against Southern Indiana.

Division I teams are allowed either two exhibitions against non-Division I teams or one exhibition and a closed scrimmage, which can be against a Division I squad.

Margenthaler chose the second option for the second year in a row.

The Redhawks will have a 16-game Ohio Valley Conference schedule for the second straight year as this season marks the first year for divisional play.

Southeast will play fellow OVC West Division members Austin Peay, Eastern Illinois, Murray State, SIU Edwardsville and Tennessee-Martin twice each, both home and on the road.

The Redhawks face the six OVC East Division teams just once apiece. Southeast hosts Eastern Kentucky, Morehead State and Tennessee Tech while visiting first-year conference member Belmont, Jacksonville State and Tennessee State.

Southeast opens its OVC schedule at home against defending champion Tennessee-Martin on Dec. 29.

2012-13 Southeast women's basketball schedule

Date Opponent Time

Nov. 4 Southern Indiana (exhibition) TBA

Nov. 9 WRIGHT STATE TBA

Nov. 12 at Missouri-Kansas City TBA

Nov. 14 at Kansas TBA

Nov. 19 at Arkansas State TBA

Nov. 23 at TBA (at Houston) & TBA

Nov. 24 at TBA (at Houston) & TBA

Nov. 29 at Missouri TBA

Dec. 1 ILLINOIS-CHICAGO TBA

Dec. 5 at SIU Carbondale TBA

Dec. 8 WESTERN ILLINOIS TBA

Dec. 15 at Western Kentucky TBA

Dec. 21 MISSOURI STATE TBA

Dec. 29 TENNESSEE-MARTIN * TBA

Dec. 31 at Belmont * TBA

Jan. 5 AUSTIN PEAY * TBA

Jan. 7 MURRAY STATE * TBA

Jan. 9 ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY TBA

Jan. 14 at Tennessee State * TBA

Jan. 21 MOREHEAD STATE * TBA

Jan. 26 at Eastern Illinois * TBA

Jan. 28 at SIU-Edwardsville * TBA

Feb. 2 EASTERN KENTUCKY * TBA

Feb. 4 at Austin Peay * TBA

Feb. 9 EASTERN ILLINOIS * TBA

Feb. 11 SIU-EDWARDSVILLE * TBA

Feb. 16 at Tennessee-Martin * TBA

Feb. 23 at Jacksonville State * TBA

Feb. 25 TENNESSEE TECH * TBA

March 2 at Murray State * TBA

March 6-9 OVC Tournament (at Nashville)

& David Jones Classic

* OVC game