Redhawks close regular season at Austin Peay

The Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team is not likely to earn a first-round home game for the Ohio Valley Conference tournament.

Thursday's 70-54 loss at Tennessee State probably took care of that.

But coach John Ishee said the Redhawks have plenty to play for as they end the regular season today at Austin Peay.

First and foremost, Southeast (15-13, 10-7) -- tied for fourth in the OVC -- can clinch a winning season by beating the sixth-place Govs (13-15, 9-8).

"That's important," Ishee said.

The Redhawks also want to make sure they'll carry some momentum into the eight-team OVC tournament that begins Tuesday night.

And Southeast still has an outside chance of hosting an opening-round contest, a reward that goes to the top four finishers.

The only way that will happen for the Redhawks is if they win today and Morehead State -- tied for fourth with Southeast -- loses at last-place Tennessee-Martin, which has not posted an OVC victory.

If Morehead State and Southeast finish deadlocked, the Eagles earn the tiebreaker because they swept the season series from the Redhawks.

A Morehead State setback isn't likely, but if it does happen, the Redhawks want to make sure they would be able to take advantage.

Ishee was disappointed in the way the Redhawks performed Thursday at Tennessee State.

"We've got to find a way to regroup," Ishee said. "Try to get our 16th win and our 11th conference win."

Southeast also will try to avenge a loss to Austin Peay, which beat the Redhawks 61-50 at the Show Me Center on Dec. 4.

The Redhawks played that contest without senior wing Sonya Daugherty, their second-leading scorer and one of their top all-around players, who was out with a knee injury.

Austin Peay has been among the OVC's biggest surprises after the Govs were picked ninth in the preseason poll, although they have lost their last five games.

But Austin Peay has clinched a spot in the conference tournament after missing out last year.

"They're one of the most improved teams in the conference," Ishee said. "They've had a good year."

Austin Peay features a balanced offensive attack that has three players averaging in double figures.

Senior forward April Thomas leads the way at 12.6 points per game, followed by sophomore wing Ashley Herring (11.7) and junior forward Nicole Jamen (10.6).

Herring, the sister of Southeast men's basketball player Jaycen Herring, led the Govs with 21 points in the earlier game against the Redhawks.

Men end season

Southeast has one final chance to avoid becoming just the seventh team in the 61-year history of OVC men's basketball to finish the season without a conference victory.

The Redhawks (3-26, 0-17) carry the nation's longest current losing streak -- 18 -- into tonight's season finale at Austin Peay (16-12, 12-5), which is in a three-way tie for second place and still has a shot to tie for the title.

Two-time defending OVC regular-season champion Austin Peay routed Southeast 91-67 on Dec. 4 in Cape Girardeau.

The Governors are led by senior forward Drake Reed, a two-time all-OVC first-team selection who is second in the league in scoring at 22 points per game.

Reed also ranks in the top five in rebounding (7.5) and field-goal percentage (56.8).

"They're always tough," Southeast acting coach Zac Roman said. "That program speaks for itself."