Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team loses to OVC-leading UTM

~ OVC-leading UTM explodes for 77-44 victory against the Southeast women

Southeast Missouri State had its moments Saturday night against Tennessee-Martin's offensive juggernaut.

But it's virtually impossible to consistently slow down one of the nation's highest-scoring women's basketball teams.

The visiting Skyhawks had just 20 points through the first 16 minutes but put up 57 points over the final 24 minutes to romp 77-44.

"We couldn't keep up with them offensively," Southeast senior point guard Bianca Beck said.

Southeast Missouri State’s Patricia Mack looks to pass against Tennessee-Martin during the first half Saturday at the Show Me Center. (Fred Lynch)

Defending Ohio Valley Conference tournament champion UTM (19-8, 13-1) assumed sole possession of first place after Eastern Illinois lost to SIU Edwardsville.

Southeast (6-21, 3-11), which played its final home game of the season and has two road contests remaining, fell into 10th place in the 11-team conference.

The top eight finishers qualify for the OVC tournament. Southeast is ninth for tournament purposes because third-place SIUE is ineligible for the event this season.

"We still have a chance to make the conference tournament, which is exciting for our coaching staff and players," said first-year Southeast coach Ty Margenthaler, whose squad trails Austin Peay by one game for the final tournament spot.

Southeast, which lost at UTM 88-47 on Jan. 28, never led Saturday and was tied just once at 2-2.

Southeast Missouri State’s Bianca Beck takes a shot against Tennessee-Martin during the second half. More photos can be viewed at semoball.com.

The Redhawks trailed just 20-15 with about four minutes left, but the Skyhawks opened up a 35-20 lead by halftime.

Southeast scored the first five points of the second half to pull within 35-25, but after that it was all UTM, which led by as many as 36 points.

"We're a defensive team. We can't just outscore teams," Southeast senior guard Karley Evans said. "We can't let them get their team average."

The Redhawks didn't, but just barely. UTM ranks fourth nationally with an 80-point average. The Skyhawks are even more explosive in conference play at better than 89 points per game.

UTM ranks second nationally with an average of 10 made 3-pointers per contest. The Skyhawks bettered that Saturday, hitting 12 in 29 attempts (41.4 percent).

"They were on. They were hitting all their 3's," Beck said.

Especially sophomore guards Heather Butler and Jasmine Newsome, the nation's top-scoring duo.

Butler, averaging nearly 24 points to lead the OVC, lit up Southeast for 27 points. She made 9 of 16 field goals, including 4 of 7 3-pointers.

Newsome, averaging 20 points to rank second in the league, scored 21 while adding nine rebounds, nine assists and five steals. She hit 7 of 14 shots, including 4 of 6 from beyond the arc.

"They can penetrate. They can shoot. It's a tough matchup guarding them," Beck said.

Butler and Newsome outscored Southeast by themselves.

"They have two really good guards -- next level type guards," Margenthaler said. "They've been a tough matchup for two years in this league."

Margenthaler didn't think the Redhawks had nearly the type of effort needed to have a chance at keeping up with UTM.

"They were more aggressive. We competed at times. ... not enough. I didn't feel like we had the effort we needed to compete for 40 minutes," Margenthaler said. "I told the girls before the game, ‘Martin is playing for something. We're going to get their best shot.'"

UTM coach Kevin McMillan was more pleased with his team's defense and rebounding than its offense.

The Skyhawks, who statistically rank toward the bottom of the OVC in defense and rebounding, held Southeast to 33.3 percent shooting and outboarded the Redhawks 46-31.

"Defensively and on the glass, this is one of the better games we've played," McMillan said. "Very, very pleased with our defense and rebounding."

Junior forward Brittany Harriel hit 8 of 11 shots and paced Southeast with 16 points. She grabbed seven rebounds.

Evans had eight points and five assists.

"There was no excuse for the lack of rebounding," Harriel said.

Southeast ends the regular season at last-place Jacksonville State on Thursday and ninth-place Austin Peay on Saturday.

Saturday's contest likely will decide the final OVC tournament berth.

"I'm glad we have something to play for," Margenthaler said.