Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team looks for first road victory

~ The Redhawks have recorded both their wins at the Show Me Center

The Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team has shown plenty of improvement in recent weeks, which resulted in the Redhawks' first two victories.

But the Redhawks (2-7) still haven't won a game away from home this season, which they'll try to change Saturday when they visit Western Michigan (1-6) for a 1 p.m. tipoff.

Southeast has won two of its last three contests after an 0-6 start, beating Arkansas State and Lindenwood last week.

"They've played a tough schedule so far, just like we have," first-year Southeast coach Ty Margenthaler said about the Broncos. "They'll be a quality opponent, but I really feel like we keep getting better. We're making a lot of progress."

The Redhawks got a break from their early road-heavy schedule by playing two of their past three games at the Show Me Center.

Southeast now plays four straight away from Cape Girardeau leading up to Ohio Valley Conference opener at home against Morehead State on Dec. 28.

Southeast plays 10 of its first 13 games away from home.

The Redhawks had some time off from competition after a stretch of five games in eight days ended with Saturday's 66-56 win over Lindenwood.

"It was a very tough stretch for us. We needed the break," Margenthaler said.

Southeast's defense has been solid most of the season, and the Redhawks' offense has picked up in recent outings.

The Redhawks posted their three biggest point totals in their past four games, topped by Saturday's season-high 66 points.

"I think our offense is getting better and better," Margenthaler said.

WMU went 9-21 overall and 5-11 in the Mid-American Conference last year. Among the Broncos' losses was a 60-56 setback to Southeast at the Show Me Center.

Senior forward Miame Giden, a preseason all-MAC selection, leads the Broncos with averages of 11.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, but she has missed the past two contests with an injury and is listed as being out indefinitely.