Redhawks pursue ninth straight win

Southeast Missouri State is an extremely confident women's basketball team these days, which is understandable.

After all, the Redhawks have won eight straight games -- and have rarely been seriously challenged during that streak.

But the Redhawks also are respectful enough of the opposition -- and aware of how dangerous things can be on the road -- to realize they are not invincible.

That's why Southeast (14-7, 11-3 Ohio Valley Conference) is proceeding with caution entering today's 4:30 p.m. tipoff at Morehead State (10-10, 5-8) that begins a two-game road trip for the Redhawks.

Southeast finishes up its long trek to Kentucky with Saturday's contest at Eastern Kentucky (6-15, 6-8).

"This is going to be a really hard trip for us," Southeast senior forward Natalie Purcell said. "Morehead was really tough when we played them last time, and Eastern Kentucky is always tough."

Southeast coach B.J. Smith agrees, especially taking into account the seven-hour bus ride to Morehead, Ky.

"This is such a long trip distance-wise, which never makes things easy," Smith said. "And both teams are really dangerous."

The Redhawks have been the OVC's hottest team in recent weeks, after a slow start appeared to place their hopes of winning the league's regular-season title in jeopardy.

But eight consecutive wins later and the Redhawks find themselves in second place and just one-half game behind Tennessee Tech, although the squads are tied on the loss side with three conference defeats.

"We've put ourselves in a good position, but we can't let up," Smith said. "We just want to keep playing well, and hopefully keep improving."

Only one of the eight victories during Southeast's current streak has come by less than 10 points, that being a 53-46 triumph at Tennessee Tech on Jan. 21 that served to put the Redhawks squarely in the title chase.

Southeast has outscored its last eight opponents by an average of nearly 18 points per game.

"We've started to play good, but we know we can't take anybody for granted, because everybody in the conference this year is pretty tough," said Purcell, who set a school single-game record with seven 3-point baskets during Saturday's 67-52 home win over Tennessee-Martin.

Smith considers today's opponent to be among those tough OVC teams.

The Eagles gave the Redhawks a run for their money on Jan. 26 in Cape Girardeau, as MSU trailed by just eight points with under two minutes left before Southeast recorded a 62-50 victory.

"I think Morehead has about as much talent as anybody in the league," Smith said. "They'll be difficult to beat at their place."

Smith also thinks the same of Eastern Kentucky, even though the defending OVC regular-season and tournament champion has experienced rough going this year.

The Colonels, who beat the Redhawks in double-overtime during last year's OVC tournament final, lost to Southeast 84-78 on Jan. 2 at the Show Me Center.

"The second game on this long trip, it won't be easy," Smith said.

If the Redhawks keep playing defense like they have during their winning streak, they figure to have a good chance of extending it.

Southeast has allowed an average of 51 points over the past eight games.

"Defense is what has really been doing it for us," Purcell said. "We need to keep that going."