Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team opens season at Alabama A&M

~ Southeast set to tip off its third season under coach Ty Margenthaler

The Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team will shoot for its second straight season-opening victory today.

Southeast coach Ty Margenthaler believes the Redhawks have a solid chance to pull it off but he knows winning on the road won't be easy.

The Redhawks begin their third season under Margenthaler with a 7 p.m. tipoff against Alabama A&M in Huntsville, Ala.

"We feel that way [about having a good chance at winning]," said Margenthaler, whose squad beat visiting Wright State in last year's opener. "But any time you go on the road it will be a challenge."

Alabama A&M is coming off a season that saw it go 9-20 overall and 8-10 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The Bulldogs were picked to finish ninth in the 10-team SWAC in a preseason poll of the league's coaches.

But the Bulldogs posted winning overall and league records each of the previous three years.

The Bulldogs, who averaged 57.7 points per game and allowed 64.1 points per contest in 2012-13, are under the direction of first-year coach Semeka Randall, a former Tennessee All-American and WNBA player.

"They struggled a little bit last year, but they're very athletic and they've got a new coach, so you really don't know what to expect," Margenthaler said.

Alabama A&M returns three starters from a year ago, led by its only double-figure scorer in 5-foot-10 senior forward Jasmine Sanders. She led the Bulldogs with 11.4 points per game and ranked second with 6.4 rebounds per contest.

Other returning regulars are 5-5 twin guards Brittney Strickland (8.7 ppg) and Alyssa Strickland (7.9 ppg). Brittney is a fourth-year junior while Alyssa is a senior.

Southeast begins the season with plenty of optimism after the 2012-13 Redhawks posted the program's most overall and conference wins since the 2008-09 season. The Redhawks went 11-18 overall and 5-11 in play a year ago, which tied them for ninth place among 12 teams, their highest finish since 2008-09.

"I like this basketball team, where we're at," Margenthaler said. "I'm excited about the season."

After tonight's contest, the Redhawks return to action Monday when they open their home schedule at 5:30 p.m. against Bradley.