Redhawks go outside OVC, will host Western Michigan

The Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team will look to ride the momentum from its first Ohio Valley Conference win tonight.

Western Michigan from the Mid-American Conference visits the Show Me Center for a 7 p.m. tipoff.

The Redhawks improved to 3-5 overall and 1-1 in OVC play with Saturday's 51-46 home victory over Tennessee State.

Western Michigan, which has not yet started its conference schedule, is 2-6 and has lost four straight.

The Broncos own a 57-55 season-opening win over defending OVC champion and preseason favorite Eastern Illinois. Their other win was 56-52 over SIU-Carbondale.

Western Michigan went 9-21 overall and 4-12 in the MAC last year.

"They're a lot better than their record shows. They'll be a really good team," Southeast coach John Ishee said. "We'll have to be on top of our game to beat them."

Ebony Cleary, a 6-foot-1 senior forward, has been a dominant performer so far. She leads Western Michigan with averages of 13.9 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.

Following tonight's game, the Redhawks continue their nonconference schedule Friday at nationally ranked Wisconsin-Green Bay.