Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team gets little time to savor first victory

The Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team didn't have long to celebrate its first win of the season, Tuesday night's 56-52 triumph over visiting Arkansas State.

Southeast boarded a bus early Wednesday for the 450-mile trip to Cedar Falls, Iowa, where the Redhawks (1-6) will face defending Missouri Valley Conference regular-season and tournament champion Northern Iowa (4-1) at 7 p.m. today.

"We've gotten pretty used to being on a bus," first-year Southeast coach Ty Margenthaler said with a laugh.

The Redhawks only have had two home games so far. They are playing 10 of their first 13 contests away from Cape Girardeau.

Tuesday's rare early season appearance at the Show Me Center provided Southeast with the shot of confidence it needed.

Southeast Missouri State's Bianca Beck pushes past Arkansas State's Ashley Olvera during the first half Tuesday at the Show Me Center. The Redhawks defeated the Red Wolves for their first win of the season. (Kristin Eberts)

And it primarily was because the Redhawks finally made some shots after they had been struggling offensively.

Southeast averaged 45 points while shooting 31.3 percent from the field, including 20 percent from 3-point range, in its first six games.

The Redhawks hit 39.2 percent and drilled 9 of 16 from beyond the arc for a sizzling 56.3 percent against Arkansas State in front of a crowd announced at nearly 1,500.

"I felt all along, with our effort and the way we've been playing defense, we would put ourselves in a position to win if we made shots," Margenthaler said. "Our biggest thing is every possession make it count and try to get a good shot. We took good shots."

Senior guard Karley Evans scored a career-high 17 points. She hit 3 of 6 3-pointers after entering the night 5 of 26.

"She got off to a great start. She did a tremendous job," Margenthaler said.

Freshman guard Allyson Bradshaw, a Notre Dame Regional High School graduate, had the best game of her young college career with 13 points. She made 3 of 5 from long range, including the 3-pointer that broke a 50-50 tie with less than two minutes left.

Junior guard Shela Fields also contributed to the hot shooting, hitting both of her 3-point attempts.

"We'd been having slow starts not because of a lack of energy but just because we haven't made shots," Margenthaler said.

The Redhawks actually got their offense going during Saturday's 63-58 loss to Samford, an NCAA tournament team a year ago. That marked Southeast's closest defeat of the season and the Redhawks' highest point total.

Southeast continued the offensive surge against Arkansas State. The Redhawks have hit 15 of 33 3-pointers over the past two games (45.5 percent).

"One thing I'm so proud of with our players, they've come in every day ready for practice, ready to work," Margenthaler said. "They've bought in, but now to finally get that first win, it just helps so much. It shows them what they're capable of."

Senior point guard Bianca Beck continued her strong floor play Tuesday with seven assists and just one turnover.

"Bianca is really playing well," Margenthaler said.

Southeast will face a major challenge in trying to compile a two-game winning streak because UNI likely will be among the best squads the Redhawks face all season.

The Panthers went 27-6 overall and 17-1 in MVC play to sweep the conference's regular-season and tournament titles last year. They were picked second in the MVC preseason poll.

UNI, which beat Southeast 70-57 at the Show Me Center last year in the first meeting between the programs, has posted all four of its wins by double figures this season. The Panthers' lone loss was at Iowa.

Senior guard Rachel Madrigal leads UNI at 15.4 points per game. She averaged just 4.1 points through her first three collegiate seasons.

The Panthers are tied for sixth nationally with an average of 9.2 3-pointers made per contest.

"They're very talented. It will be a big challenge for us," Margenthaler said. "But these games are only going to help us prepare for the conference."

Following today's game, Southeast returns home to face Lindenwood University from St. Charles, Mo., on Saturday. The Lions are transitioning from NAIA to Division II.