Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team misses out on OVC tournament

The Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team had by far its best offensive performance of the season Saturday.

But the Redhawks fell a bit short of their first Ohio Valley Conference tournament berth in three years.

Host Austin Peay never trailed and built a late 17-point lead and held on to win 88-84 in Clarksville, Tenn.

The winner of the game was assured a berth in the eight-team OVC tournament, so that spot goes to the Governors (8-21, 5-11).

Southeast (7-22, 4-12) finished 10th in the 11-team conference under first-year coach Ty Margenthaler.

The Redhawks set the program record for losses in a season. The past two Southeast squads, which both suffered 21 defeats, had shared the mark.

Margenthaler, who is trying to rebuild a struggling program, was proud of the Redhawks' effort.

"Each player gave me everything they had," Margenthaler said. "The attitude of the team has been great all week. This was by far our best offensive performance of the year.

"Austin Peay was very aggressive and they shot the lights out and also had their best performance. The team didn't lay down at the end. They fought hard to the final buzzer."

Senior guard Bianca Beck scored a career-high 18 points to lead the Redhawks in her final collegiate game.

Senior guard Karley Evans and junior forward Brittany Harriel both added 15 points. Junior guard Shelah Fields (13) and junior forward Bailie Roberts (10) rounded out Southeast's double-figure scorers.

Harriel pulled down seven rebounds and Beck dished out six assists.

"I'm sorry for my three seniors. I told them that they started something here," Margenthaler said. "Bianca was outstanding tonight, and we are going to miss her next year. Her and Karley both came up big for us in their last game.

"I wish we could've advanced to the tournament, but I am so proud of the team. We did some good things this year to lay the foundation for the program going forward."

The Govs led 4-0 early. Southeast forged a 4-4 tie, but Austin Peay scored five straight points to go ahead 9-4.

Southeast never caught back up.

It was 36-30 at halftime. Southeast cut the deficit to two points early in the second half before the Govs steadily pulled away.

Austin Peay opened a 70-53 bulge with just more than four minutes left.

Southeast got no closer than nine points until the final 25 seconds, when the Redhawks exploded for 11 points. But Austin Peay hit its free throws to withstand Evans' 3-pointer at the buzzer.

The Redhawks, who scored a season-high point total, shot a season-best 55.6 percent from the field, including a sizzling 66.7 percent in the second half.

Southeast had been averaging 51.4 points while shooting 33.4 percent, both ranking last in the OVC.

The Govs shot 50.9 percent of their attempts to keep pace.