Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team stumbles to 0-3

The Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team held its first second-half lead of the young season Tuesday night.

But the Redhawks couldn't sustain it.

Host Illinois-Chicago pulled away to win 69-54.

Southeast fell to 0-3 and concluded its season-opening three-game road stretch under first-year coach Ty Margenthaler.

"I thought we played harder longer tonight. We're getting better," Margenthaler said. "Overall I thought our effort was outstanding."

UIC (2-0) scored the first eight points of the contest to put Southeast in an early hole. The Redhawks trailed 30-27 at the break after going ahead late in the half.

The Redhawks kept coming and took three second-half leads, twice by three points.

UIC, which trailed 42-39 with less than 11 minutes left, used another 8-0 run to go up 47-42. Southeast got no closer than four points.

The Flames used a 19-3 burst to build a 58-45 advantage after they fell behind 42-39.

All-Horizon League senior guard Jasmine Bailey was the biggest thorn in Southeast's side. She poured in a career-high 30 points, including 20 of UIC's 30 points in the first half.

Bailey, who scored the Flames' first 13 points, also grabbed nine rebounds while adding four assists, two blocks and two steals. She hit 8 of 15 field-goal attempts, including all three of her 3-pointers.

"She does a great job of getting to the rim," Margenthaler said. "She can also shoot from 3-point range. We knew that would be a tough matchup."

Southeast was led offensively by junior forward Bailie Roberts for the second consecutive contest.

Roberts scored 16 points, matching her output in Sunday's loss at Saint Louis University. She hit 7 of 13 shots and also grabbed a team-high five rebounds.

Senior guard Bianca Beck scored 13 points for the Redhawks to equal her career high. She made 4 of 8 field goals and hit all five of her free throws.

Beck added four rebounds and four assists against just one turnover while playing the entire 40 minutes.

Junior guard Shela Fields made 2 of 3 from 3-point range. She had seven points, two assists and two steals.

The Redhawks, who scored a season-high 54 points, had their best shooting performance. They hit 37.3 percent on 19 of 51 after entering the night at 26.4 percent.

But Southeast shot just 27.6 percent in the second half after making 50 percent in the opening period.

Southeast hit 5 of 13 from 3-point range (38.5 percent). The Redhawks made just 5 of 39 (12.8 percent) from beyond the arc in the first two games.

The Redhawks continued to struggle on the boards. They were outrebounded 40-30. They were beaten on the glass by an average of nearly 15 in their first two outings.

Southeast had a season-low 11 turnovers after averaging 20 in its first two games.

Tuesday's game marked Southeast's third contest in five days. The Redhawks will get a break before opening their home schedule Monday night against Mississippi from the Southeastern Conference.