Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team regroups before visit to EIU

~ Redhawks Players held a team meeting after Monday's loss at home to Austin Peay

After the Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team's game Monday -- an 87-74 loss to Austin Peay -- the players met by themselves for a private discussion.

Southeast coach Ty Margenthaler doesn't know exactly what was discussed, but was pleased with the way they responded Wednesday in their first practice following the game, and thinks the meeting could have something to do with it.

"It's frustrating, but exciting, but yesterday was by far -- by far -- the best practice we've had all year long," Margenthaler said Thursday. "They had a players-only meeting after the game and I think they got some things hashed out between themselves and they came in [Wednesday] -- now again, that's one day. Can we do it today? We'll find out. Can we do it tomorrow? Can we do it Saturday? That's something that we're going to have to see, but yesterday was great. It was tremendous."

When he explained why the practice was the best yet this season there wasn't a mention of specifics of what they were doing well on the court, but rather how they interacted.

"The difference was they all came in, they all communicated, they all competed," Margenthaler said. "It was just a whole team effort. It wasn't two or three kids, it was everybody. That's what we have to have, and not just parts -- the whole team. I was really excited. I think the team felt really good about what they did yesterday. It was rewarding.

"I told them this, and I talked to them about this, that it's not too late. We definitely need to make some progress now, but we're not in a situation where it's over. They know that, and they know the schedule is pretty favorable. I mean, I look at it that way, and not to overlook anybody we're playing, but I would think that. And again, they know what's at stake and they know what's going on, and I really liked the way they approached practice yesterday, and I hope we can continue that."

The Redhawks' (7-15, 3-6 OVC) next opponent is Eastern Illinois (9-12, 4-6 OVC). The 4:15 p.m. game Saturday follows a Southeast-EIU men's matchup at Lantz Arena.

Southeast defeated the Panthers 66-49 at the Show Me Center on Jan. 25. Southeast shot just 28.1 percent in the first half of that game before shooting 57.7 percent in the second half and connecting on 6 of 7 3-pointers to seal the victory. The Panthers shot 28.8 percent in the first meeting between the two teams.

"We know that they haven't changed anything. We just have to be very disciplined in what we do," Margenthaler said. "But we know that we're going to get a better Eastern Illinois team at their gym.

"They're a lot like us. They're in that same kind of boat we're in. They need a few more wins and we need a few more wins, so it's going to come down to honestly -- and I know I'm kind of like a broken record here -- but doing the little things. Getting the right rebound, getting a big stop, making a big play, and really having our whole team very, very active. That's what we need."

Southeast sits in fourth place in the OVC West Division standings. EIU sits just one spot ahead in third. Both teams are trying to move up into the top eight teams in the conference standings to earn a spot at the OVC tournament in Nashville, Tenn.

Southeast is in 10th place overall and EIU is tied for eighth.

Margenthaler said one of the most important things for his team to do in their final seven regular-season conference games is enter each game with focus and the right mentality. It's something he can stress to his players, but can't force them to do.

"That's stuff they've just got to get themselves prepared to go into battle, win that game," Margenthaler said. "It's obvious when we do that it really works, because like [Wednesday] it's obvious they came in with the right mindset, the right attitude, and we had one heck of a practice. They competed, they enjoyed it, they laughed, and that's the biggest thing that we've got to continue to grow on really."