Redhawks will try to end OVC slide at Tennessee Tech

~ Southeast looks to end three-game losing streak on road

The Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team failed to take advantage of an early Ohio Valley Conference schedule that was dominated by home games.

Now the Redhawks have to try to make up ground in the OVC race primarily on the road.

That doesn't appear to bode well for a squad that is 0-8 in true road contests this season. Southeast does own a neutral-site victory over Longwood.

Southeast, which played five of its first six conference games at home, has seven of its final 10 OVC games on the road beginning Saturday with a 5:30 p.m. tipoff at defending OVC regular-season champion Tennessee Tech.

"Road games are always tough," Southeast junior forward Brittany Harriel said.

The Redhawks, who have lost their last three games, are 4-15 overall and 1-5 in OVC play. They are 10th in the 11-team conference. The top eight finishers qualify for the league tournament.

"We just have to continue to get better. Right now our young ladies are struggling with confidence," first-year Southeast coach Ty Margenthaler said. "Right now it's more about us, about our confidence."

While Southeast's struggles were expected after Margenthaler took over a reeling program, Tennessee Tech (6-13, 2-3) has not lived up to expectations so far.

The Eaglettes were picked to repeat their OVC regular-season title but are in seventh place.

Senior guard Tacarra Hayes, the OVC preseason player of the year, is the conference's No. 4 scorer with an average of 17.7 points per game.

"They've still got a really good team," Margenthaler said. "It's going to be a big challenge for us."