Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team drops final home game

The Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team wanted to send its seniors out with a memorable performance in their final home game.

But highlights were few and far between for the Redhawks Monday night as Tennessee Tech led all the way during a 64-51 romp.

An announced Show Me Center crowd of 643 saw Southeast fall to 10-18 overall and 4-11 in Ohio Valley Conference play. Tech improved to 16-11 and 10-4.

"A tough night for our seniors. This was about them tonight," Southeast coach Ty Margenthaler said. "A tough way for our seniors to go out."

The Redhawks, after a mid-season surge that had their record at 8-8, are limping to the finish line. Southeast has lost 10 of its last 12 games.

Southeast Missouri State guard Dru Haertling drives around Tennessee Tech guard Lashay Davis during the Redhawks' 64-51 loss to the Golden Eagles Monday, Feb. 25, at the Show Me Center. (ADAM VOGLER)

"I know our confidence is wavering," Margenthaler admitted.

Southeast, which remained 10th in the 12-team OVC, entered the night already having been eliminated for a berth in the eight-team league tournament.

Margenthaler, however, did not want to blame that for the Redhawks' performance against the conference's third-place squad that is still alive for the No. 1 OVC tournament seed.

"We went against a really good Tennessee Tech team. We knew this was going to be a tough game," Margenthaler said. "No excuses. They outplayed us."

Tech came out with a full-court press, which the Eagles utilized most of the game, and Margenthaler acknowledged that it rattled the Redhawks early.

"We had a lot of turnovers. They scored off our turnovers," senior forward Brittany Harriel said.

Southeast committed eight of its 16 turnovers by midway through the first half, which fueled a 21-9 lead for the Eagles barely 10 minutes into the game.

"You can't beat a team any time you turn the ball over every other possession," sophomore guard Allyson Bradshaw said.

Tech built its biggest first-half lead at 35-22 and entered the break ahead 35-24.

It looked like the Eagles would blow Southeast out of the building when they opened up a 45-26 advantage less than five minutes into the second half.

But the Redhawks hung tough and made things semi-interesting, which drew praise from Tech coach Jim Davis.

"We got off to a good start. You've got to give SEMO credit," said Davis, whose squad has won five of its last six games. "They came back with a vengeance. They took the fight to us.

"Ty has done a great job with his young team. They earned my utmost respect with their effort."

Tech scored only four points, all from the free-throw line, over the next nine-plus minutes as Southeast got back in the game.

The Redhawks outscored the Eagles 16-4, capped by freshman guard Olivia Hackmann's short jumper that made it 49-42 with just over eight minutes remaining.

"I was real proud of the second group in the second half. They got us back in it," Margenthaler said about a unit that consisted mostly of backup players. "We started taking care of the ball better."

But the Eagles scored the next four points to built their lead back to 53-42. The margin remained in double figures most of the rest of the way.

Harriel, one of three Southeast seniors along with guard Bailie Roberts and forward Courtney Shiffer, went out strong as she recorded her ninth career double-double and first of the season. Harriel had 16 points and 11 rebounds.

No other Southeast player scored more than eight points.

Four Tech players reached double figures, led by senior guards Jala Harris and Lashay Davis with 15 points apiece.

Tech, the OVC's top 3-point shooting team at 38 percent, hit 8 of 19 from beyond the arc (42.1 percent). The Eagles shot 40 percent from the field overall.

"They shot the ball really, really well," Margenthaler said.

Southeast shot 35.1 percent overall but made just 4 of 19 3-pointers (21.1 percent). The Redhawks outrebounded Tech 39-34 and had an 18-2 advantage in second-chance points.

"I thought we played good in spurts," Bradshaw said.

Southeast ends the season Saturday at Murray State in a 5:15 p.m. tipoff.