Second-year coach Margenthaler sees progress in Southeast Missouri State women's basketball program

~ The second-year coach remains optimistic despite program falling short of OVC tourney again

Southeast Missourian

The Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team failed to make the Ohio Valley Conference tournament for the fourth consecutive year as it again finished toward the bottom of the league.

But coach Ty Margenthaler believes his second Southeast squad made significant progress as he continues the process of rebuilding the program.

That progress could be seen in the Redhawks' record, although it was not nearly as good as Margenthaler hoped. And certainly not as good as the Redhawks suggested it might be when a mid-season surge had them 8-8.

Southeast Missouri State coach Ty Margenthaler instructs his players during a game this past season at the Show Me Center. The Redhawks finished 11-18 in Margenthaler’s second season, which was the most wins for the program since the 2008-2009 season. (Fred Lynch)

Southeast, which lost 10 of its last 13 games, finished 11-18 overall and 5-11 in the OVC, which tied the Redhawks for ninth place among 12 squads. Only the top eight finishers qualified for the conference tournament.

"Our No. 1 goal was obviously to make the conference tournament. I would have liked to take that step quicker," said Margenthaler, whose first Southeast squad went 7-22 overall and a 10th-place 4-12 in what was then an 11-team league. "But I thought we did a lot of positive things. I thought we made progress."

The Redhawks posted the program's most overall and conference wins since the 2008-09 season. For the second straight year under Margenthaler, Southeast was picked to finish last in the OVC but didn't wind up there.

"We did a lot of things that hadn't been done in the last four years. We broke down barriers," said Margenthaler, whose squad ended the season with a 61-58 win at Murray State for the Redhawks' first sweep of the Racers since the 2006-07 campaign.

Margenthaler knew things would be tough when he took over a program that has experienced plenty of success but had fallen on hard times. Until this year, Southeast had not won more than eight games overall or four OVC games in a season since 2008-09.

"It doesn't happen overnight, especially when they haven't had success for a long period of time," Margenthaler said. "It takes more than one recruiting class. It takes several."

The Redhawks continued to be plagued by injuries during Margenthaler's second year.

Katie Norman, a guard who was Southeast's co-leading scorer in 2010-11, did not play the past two seasons as her college career was ended by lingering back problems.

Brooke Taylor, a forward who was Southeast's top recruit for the 2010-11 season -- the year before Margenthaler arrived -- still has not taken the court. She missed the 2010-11 campaign with a blood disorder and the past two years with knee injuries. Her college basketball future remains uncertain.

"It's unfortunate with those two, and during the year we had some tough injuries. We've had some unfortunate mishaps," Margenthaler said.

Southeast had just three seniors this year, and all were key players.

Guard Bailie Roberts led the Redhawks in scoring and was third in rebounding with averages of 11 points and 5.2 boards. She ranked third with 30 3-pointers.

Forward Brittany Harriel, who missed seven games during the middle of the season with a hand injury, was Southeast's second-leading scorer and rebounder with averages of 9.5 points and 5.6 boards.

Forward Courtney Shiffer, who missed six games with a concussion, contributed 3.3 points and 4.0 rebounds. She led the team with 16 blocked shots and finished seventh on the program's career list for blocks.

"We're going to miss those three. They did a lot for our program. They left the program a lot better than it was when they got here," Margenthaler said.

Several of this year's first-year players made major impacts, led by junior college transfer point guard Jordan Hunter and true freshman guard Kara Wright.

Hunter was Southeast's No. 3 scorer (9.1 ppg) and led in assists (115) and steals (34). She also was second with 31 3-pointers.

Wright, Southeast's top recruit for this season, moved into the starting lineup just under halfway through the season and ultimately ended up on the OVC's all-newcomer team. She finished as the Redhawks' No. 4 scorer (8.5 ppg), was second in assists (56) and second in blocks (15).

Wright especially stood out during conference play, her 10.6 scoring average ranking only behind Roberts' 12.6 mark.

Sophomore guard Allyson Bradshaw, a Notre Dame Regional High School graduate, was Southeast's top 3-point shooter in both volume and percentage while averaging 8.2 points. She hit 48 of 144 from beyond the arc (33.3 percent).

Fourth-year junior forward Patricia Mack averaged 5.7 points and was Southeast's top rebounder, her 9.3 mark ranking fourth in the OVC. She was also second on the team in steals (29) and third in blocks (11).

Guard Olivia Hackmann was Southeast's second-most productive freshman, averaging 4.4 points and, like Wright, flashing the potential that suggests she could be an upper-level OVC player.

Southeast's other two freshmen, guard Dru Haertling (2.1 ppg) and forward Connor King (1.3 ppg) -- both Jackson High School products -- also had their moments in limited action.

Sophomore guard Yelena Rosado saw very little action, scoring one point in 27 minutes spanning eight games.

Southeast landed four high school seniors during the early signing period: Blue Valley (Kan.) forward Bailey Geiman, Columbia (Mo.) Hickman combo guard Jade Holly, Highland (Mo.) guard Ashton Luttrull and Germantown (Tenn.) point guard Brianna Mitchell.

Margenthaler said the Redhawks likely will sign two more players. He especially has his sights set on improving Southeast's post presence.

"I'm excited about what we have returning and what we're bringing in," Margenthaler said.

And excited about the future of the program.

"I think the program's going in the right direction," Margenthaler said.