Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team rolls to exhibition victory

Sophomore forward Deja Jones easily recalled a part of first-year coach Rekha Patterson's pregame speech following the Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team's exhibition game Sunday afternoon.

"Today, before we went out, she looked everybody in the eye and told us, 'I have your back regardless: win, lose or draw. I have your back,'" Jones said.

Jones and teammates Olivia Hackmann and Imani Johnson agreed that those were the words that provided the Redhawks with an additional boost of confidence as they cruised to a 109-66 victory over Division II Oakland City at the Show Me Center.

It was the first time the Redhawks scored more than 100 points since the 2006 team defeated Harris-Stowe 101-78.

"We knew we weren't going to be perfect every time. It's not going to happen," Hackmann, a senior guard, said, "but just give your best. That's all we were going for. I thought everyone today gave their best when their number was called."

Southeast Missouri State's Kaley Leyhue looks to pass against Oakland City during the third period Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015 at the Show Me Center. (Fred Lynch)

The Redhawks never trailed after a basket by Jones, who finished with 18 points on 8-of-9 shooting and nine rebounds, tied it at 6-all 1 minute, 16 seconds into the contest.

Oakland City closed to within 15-10 on Raven Greer's 3-pointer with 5:07 left in the first 10-minute quarter, but the Oaks didn't score again until there was 6:44 left in the second quarter.

The Redhawks led 32-10 after the first quarter and had scored 40 by the time the Oaks got their 11th point on a Greer free throw.

"I just think we picked up our intensity a little bit, and I thought we did a better job of defending penetration, not letting them turn the corner," Patterson said about that span. "That was huge because they were hurting us a little bit whenever they'd drive and kick, and we'd have to help, so I think we sat down and defended the ball."

Southeast led by as many as 46 points in the first half and held a 65-22 advantage at the break.

Southeast Missouri State's Hannah Noe drives against Oakland City during the third period Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015 at the Show Me Center. (Fred Lynch)

The Redhawks were 25 of 47 from the floor in the first 20 minutes, including 3 of 7 on 3-point attempts. Southeast also made 12 of 14 free throws.

Oakland City made seven field goals, including five 3s, and shot 20 percent in the first half.

"We didn't put in a lot. We wanted to keep it simple, and we wanted them to be good at the things that we put in, and I felt like that maybe allowed for them to be confident," Patterson said. "We didn't do a scouting report because we weren't able to do one, but it didn't matter about our opponent. It's how we're going to play, and that was the focus."

Patterson also said she wanted her players to focus on, "Loose ball, who's going to recover it? Who's going to be the first one to get that nice floor burn? Who's going to be the first one to pick up a charge?"

There were plenty of hustle plays from the Redhawks, who forced 24 turnovers, including three steals apiece for Hackmann and freshmen guards Adrianna Murphy and Corneisha Henderson.

Each time a Southeast player hit the deck for a loose ball or came up with a steal, as well as when sophomore guard Ashton Luttrell took a charge in the first quarter, the bench erupted.

"Those are toughness characteristics that don't always show up in the stat sheet. Those things were important," Patterson said. "Our energy, our effort -- how are we on the bench? If you're not in the game, are you engaged? Are you giving good energy to your teammates? When there was a good pass, did we point to each other? If somebody hit the floor, did the other four come over and pick her up? That's something that we focused on and I was pleased with."

Along with Jones, Hackmann and redshirt freshman forward Imani Johnson each added 18 points.

Johnson was 7 of 10 from the floor with nine rebounds in 18 minutes off the bench. Hackmann also had six rebounds.

All 14 Redhawks saw action and scored in the game.

Sophomore guard Kaley Leyhue started and scored 11 points.

Starting junior point guard Brianna Mitchell added six assists, eight points and seven rebounds.

"We actually ran our offense really well," said Hackmann, who shot 46.2 percent in the game. "We got the shots we wanted. Maybe finishing around the basket a little bit more would be good, but we're getting there. For the first exhibition, I thought [it went] really well."

Southeast hosts Lindenwood-Belleville in an exhibition game at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The Redhawks open the season Nov. 14 at Saint Louis University.

"This one really doesn't count, and there's a lot that we need to get ready for," Patterson said about her postgame message to the team. "For our second game we're going to put in some new things, turn it up a little bit on them and then, again, we are just preparing every day to get better. Be better than the day before. When that first one starts, then we'll be ready for that."