Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team looks to get on track in OVC

~ Southeast will try to end a three-game losing streak against Eastern Illinois

The Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team set a goal of making it to the Ohio Valley Conference tournament in Nashville, Tenn., before the start of the season.

With just one OVC win under their belt and 11 games remaining, the Redhawks are living by the motto "game by game," according to coach Ty Margenthaler, to see if they can make progress in the conference standings and still reach that goal.

The Redhawks' next task will be OVC West Division opponent Eastern Illinois (8-10, 3-4). The teams tip off at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Show Me Center.

Southeast (5-13, 1-4) is coming off a 62-59 loss to Morehead State on Monday and looking to snap a three-game losing streak.

"We've just got to control what we can control, honestly, and that's just getting better in practice and taking each game as it is," Margenthaler said. "It really doesn't do us any good to look at anybody else or look at the schedule. And I think with the team, that's what we have to do, and we're doing that.

"Our girls are smart -- they know where we're at in the season. They know where we're at and they know what's coming up ... I don't really harp on it too much to them because they understand. They know that we've got to get better in some areas, and we're focusing on those. Really it's just one or two more stops on defense, the ball goes in a couple more times and we're right there."

Southeast's defense will have to slow down the Panthers' 6-foot-2 junior forward Sabina Oroszova, who is averaging 17.7 points and 13.3 rebounds per game in conference play.

"I think she's one of the best players in our conference," Margenthaler said. "What can make her really tough to defend is she's got great size and can score inside, and she can also step out and shoot the 3. They run a lot of things through her. They want the ball in her hands quite a bit."

Patricia Mack is tasked with guarding Oroszova to start the game.

In addition to Oroszova, Jordyne Crunk averages 14.6 ppg and Katlyn Payne averages 12.7 ppg against OVC opponents.

Margenthaler has stressed consistency all season long, and he said his team has achieved that the past few games.

"I was really pleased the last few games about the effort and intensity that we're playing with, and I think we need to continue that," Margenthaler said. "We need some breaks here and there, and we need the ball to go in.

"But I think that Jordan Hunter -- she's been playing outstanding in conference play. And Trish Mack's been consistent and Ally [Bradshaw], her effort has been really good the past few games, and Olivia -- tough game last game, but she's been very consistent. I think we're still going to get that, and a win would do a lot for us, there's no question. I feel like we're right there, and now it's maybe just to get one more stop or a couple more buckets and we're over the hump."

Hunter's the only Redhawk averaging double figures in conference play with 14.2 ppg. Brianna Mitchell's averaging 9.2, and Allyson Bradshaw and Olivia Hackmann are averaging 8.4 and 8.2 ppg, respectively. Hackmann did not score against Morehead St. on Monday.

Mack has been a force on the boards for Southeast, averaging 11.6 rebounds in the OVC along with 8 ppg.

Margenthaler does not know if Hillary Lively's sprained ankle will keep her out of Saturday's game, but it seemed likey since she has not been practicing.