Redhawks attempt to improve OVC standing vs. EKU

The Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team is two-thirds of the way through its Ohio Valley Conference schedule.

And the jury is out on what type of season the Redhawks will end up having.

Despite all its recent struggles, injury-riddled Southeast still is alive to host a first-round OVC tournament game.

By the same token, if the Redhawks don't start picking up some wins, they could find themselves out of the conference tournament.

"There's still a lot to be decided," Southeast coach John Ishee said.

Southeast, which has lost seven of its past nine games, will try to get back on track today when Eastern Kentucky visits the Show Me Center for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff.

That is one of six league contests left for Southeast (7-15, 4-8), which finds itself eighth in the 10-team OVC.

The top eight finishers qualify for the OVC tournament, with the top four playing at home in the first round.

Southeast is just one game in the loss column behind today's opponent, fourth-place EKU (10-13, 6-7).

But the Redhawks are only one-half game removed from last place as the bottom seven squads are separated by only two games.

"I don't ever remember it being this tight from fourth to last," Ishee said. "We've still got a realistic shot to get that fourth spot and get a home game for the tournament."

The Redhawks began a closing stretch featuring five of their final seven games at home with Saturday's 71-41 loss to OVC leader Eastern Illinois.

Southeast and the visiting Panthers were tied 17-17 midway through the first half when the Redhawks' offense sputtered.

The Redhawks did not score over the final 9 minutes, 31 seconds of the opening period as Eastern Illinois used a 15-0 run to lead 32-17 at the intermission. The Panthers continued to roll in the second half.

"We just struggle to score with the kids we have out right now," said Ishee, whose squad is last in the OVC in scoring during league games with a 51.3 average.

Southeast has been playing without its top three scorers, who are injured.

Freshman guard Jasmine Davis and junior wing Lauren Sharpe -- Southeast's Nos. 1 and 3 scorers -- have missed the last nine games after suffering season-ending injuries.

Freshman forward Bailie Roberts, the Redhawks' No. 2 scorer who has a foot problem, has missed six straight games but Ishee said there is a chance she could return today.

Roberts, Southeast's top 3-point shooter, would bolster the Redhawks' struggling offense.

"I expect to have her back some time this week, either against Eastern Kentucky or Saturday against Morehead State," Ishee said.

Roberts, hitting 38.1 percent from beyond the arc, last played Jan. 16 when Southeast won 43-41 at EKU.