Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team faces challenge in Ole Miss

The Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team will try to get back on the winning track on the road against Southeastern Conference foe Mississippi today.

The Redhawks and Rebels (3-1) tip off at 3 p.m. in Oxford, Mississippi.

Southeast is coming off 46- and 18-point losses to Missouri and Saint Louis.

"We know that this is a very difficult stretch, but we've just got to continue to get better and put ourself in a position to hopefully win these games," Southeast coach Ty Margenthaler said.

The Redhawks' transition defense will be keys against Ole Miss, as well as limiting turnovers.

The Rebels scored 51 points off turnovers in a 91-38 defeat of Mississippi Valley State and were limited to 13 points off turnovers in their lone loss, a 71-65 setback against Middle Tennessee State.

"They're one of those teams that's going to try to get their offense from their defense," Margenthaler said. "They do a lot of pressing. They push the ball in transition quite a bit trying to get easy baskets."

Ole Miss second-leading scorer is sophomore Erika Sisk, who averages 11.3 points per game. The guard transferred from Murray State and was the Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year two seasons ago.

"She's very good at transition, she loves to get to the basket as much as she can," Margenthaler said. "She does get herself a little bit out of control -- we've seen on video -- so we're hoping that our defense is on and maybe we can pick up a few charges from her."

Sisk had 20 points but eight turnovers in the loss to Middle Tennessee State.

"They want to get to the rim," Margenthaler said. "They're very athletic. Our goal is to keep them out of the paint and then limit their offensive rebounds."

The Rebels average 21 offensive rebounds per game, and their top rebounder and scorer is 6-foot-1 senior forward Tia Faler, who is averaging 22.5 points and 13.3 rebounds per game.

"She's a very, very good offensive rebounder. They don't shoot the ball great, but when they do shoot it they crash the boards very hard," said Margenthaler about the Rebels, who are shooting 21 percent (18 of 83) from behind the arc. "She's a tremendous offensive rebounder, great touch, so she can put it right back in the hole. She's got probably 10- or 12-foot range, but definitely offensive rebounds, that's where she gets her points."

Southeast is led in rebounding by junior forward and Meadow Heights graduate Erin Bollmann with 7.3 per game and junior forward and Jackson graduate Connor King with 6.7.

"For this game we really need our guards [to rebound]," Margenthaler said. "Olivia Hackmann's got to be really big for us in rebounding. I really think Hillary Lively's got that ability, so she needs to really be good. If we can get those [four], especially one guard, to be strong on the boards then I think we should be good."