Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team will host SEC's Ole Miss

~ The Redhawks seek their first win tonight at the Show Me Center

The Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team gets a break from its road-heavy schedule today.

First-year coach Ty Margenthaler hopes the Redhawks can take advantage by posting their first win of the season in their home opener. It won't be easy.

Southeast (0-3) hosts Mississippi (2-1) in a rare appearance by a BCS-conference squad at the Show Me Center. The tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

"We're excited about having an SEC team here," Margenthaler said. "But mainly, we're just really glad to be home."

Mississippi will be the first Southeastern Conference squad to play at the Show Me Center. The last time the Redhawks hosted a BCS-conference team was in 2008-09 when the Big 12's Baylor paid a visit.

Margenthaler takes no credit for bringing Mississippi to Cape Girardeau, saying the matchup already was set when he took over Southeast's program.

"But I think it's great for our fans, and it's a good opportunity for us," Margenthaler said.

The Redhawks opened Margenthaler's debut season with three straight road games, part of an early slate that has Southeast playing 10 of its first 13 contests away from home.

"It's been a tough three games, a lot of travel," Margenthaler said. "We've really got a tough early schedule, but I do believe it's going to make us better in the long run."

Southeast was blown out at North Carolina State 66-29, stayed close most of the way at Saint Louis University before falling 54-45, then held its first second-half lead Tuesday at Illinois-Chicago but lost 69-54.

"Honestly, the last two games we've been right there. The kids are working hard. I really do see some positive signs," Margenthaler said. "It's a process. It's going to take time. But I really do believe if we stick with it, good things are going to start happening."

Junior forward Bailie Roberts is Southeast's leading scorer, averaging 12.7 points.

The Redhawks, who struggled offensively last season, have started that way this year, averaging only 42.7 points.

Southeast is shooting 29.9 percent from the field and making 19.2 percent from 3-point range. They also are averaging 17 turnovers and have been outrebounded by an average of 13 per contest.

"Our biggest struggle right now is we're having trouble scoring. We also have to do a better job rebounding," Margenthaler said. "Bailey is doing a really good job [offensively], but we're still looking for some other players to step up."

Southeast has played its first three games without junior guard Katie Norman and redshirt freshman forward Brooke Taylor.

It was announced Friday that Norman, the Redhawks' co-leading scorer last year with an 8.9 average, will miss the season with a back injury.

Margenthaler expects Taylor, who has a knee injury, to return soon.

"My goal is for her to play in the Thanksgiving tournament [Friday and Saturday in Birmingham, Ala.]," Margenthaler said. "We really need her. She's a really good basketball player."

Mississippi, which plays in one of the nation's premier conferences, struggled a year ago with a young squad, going 10-19 overall and a last-place 3-13 in the SEC.

But the Rebels have had success in recent years. They advanced to either the NCAA or WNIT tournaments six times during a seven-year span before last season. That included an NCAA Elite Eight berth in 2006-07.

The Rebels lost their top scorer from last season but return every other player who saw significant action, led by 5-foot-4 sophomore point guard Valencia McFarland.

McFarland was Mississippi's No. 2 scorer at 13.3 points per game and led the squad in assists (123) and steals (42).

"They're a very good team with a great point guard," Margenthaler said.

Mississippi's 2-1 start features nine-point home wins over North Florida and South Alabama and a nine-point loss at Lamar.

McFarland is averaging 12.7 points, while 6-4 senior forward Nikki Byrd is averaging 11 points and 10 rebounds.

OSU tragedy

Margenthaler said the plane crash late last week that took the lives of Oklahoma State women's basketball coach Kurt Budke and assistant Miranda Serna, along with two others, during a recruiting trip hit close to home.

"I knew both of them [Budke and Serna] very well. I'm just crushed by it," Margenthaler said. "It's such a tragedy."