Southeast women post back-to-back wins for first time this season

The 'Mighty Nine' is what the Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team is currently calling themselves, and those nine did something Monday night that the Redhawks had yet to do this season.

Between injuries and players quitting there are just nine Redhawks that are currently playing, and all nine of those players scored in Southeast's 79-71 victory over Ohio Valley Conference West opponent SIU Edwardsville on Monday night at the Show Me Center.

The victory gave Southeast its first winning streak of the season.

"We've got nine kids dressed -- I love it," Southeast coach Ty Margenthaler said. "They all know they're going to get a chance, they all know they're going to play, they're all ready, they've got to be focused. We're having a lot of fun right now, and we haven't seen that in awhile, so it's awful nice."

The Redhawks trailed the Cougars 33-30 at halftime after shooting 1 of 11 from behind the arc.

Southeast Missouri State guard Jordan Hunter drives against SIU Edwardsville guard Tierny Austin during Monday’s game at the Show Me Center. Southeast won 79-71. (Adam Vogler)

It was almost a complete turnaround after halftime. Southeast shot 70 percent from 3-point range over the final 20 minutes.

Margenthaler told his players to keep taking the same shots they had taken the first half, but he told them not to rush.

"We're kind of running more of a spread offense -- just attack and kick -- and so I think the kids are a little freer. They're not thinking as much," Margenthaler said. "I think that's why it's helping us offensively a little bit."

With the score knotted at 37-37 with 17 minutes, 40 seconds left in the game, senior forward Patricia Mack and junior guard Allyson Bradshaw hit back-to-back 3-pointers to spark a 26-5 run. The spurt, which included five 3-pointers, gave the Redhawks a commanding 63-42 lead with 9:56 remaining.

Southeast turnovers and fouls allowed the Cougars to chip away, but they never came any closer than the final margin.

"I think we kind of got relaxed a little bit," Margenthaler said. "We haven't had a lead like that in awhile, and I was a little nervous about that. ... I think a little bit it was just kind of maybe thinking we had it in the bag a little too soon."

Southeast held SIUE's leading scorer CoCo Moore to two points in the second half after allowing her a team-leading 12 points in the first half.

"Defensively, just on CoCo -- she's not a shooter, she's a driver," Margenthaler said. "I said, 'You can play 10 feet off of her as far as I'm concerned and just don't let her drive,' and we did that."

Both teams had five players score in double figures. Sophomore guard Olivia Hackmann led the Redhawks with a career-high 17 points after scoring two points in the last two games combined.

"I was more confident and I knew I needed to attack the basket more in this game than I have been in the past," Hackmann said. "That was definitely one of my keys this game."

Jackson High School graduate Connor King matched her career high of 13 points on 5 of 5 shooting. She hit two 3-pointers and grabbed seven rebounds.

Margenthaler said that King being an offensive threat is important for the team's overall success. It's a role King is becoming more comfortable with.

"It's just a process to figure out like game to game where you fit in or what you need," King said. "You know, what can I bring to this team every single day to make not only myself better, but them better? It was all about just taking shots and hitting them, and getting my team going."

Senior forward Patricia Mack added 12 points and nine rebounds, while sophomore guard Kara Wright and junior guard Allyson Bradshaw scored 10 apiece.

Southeast improved to 7-13 overall and 3-4 in the OVC. SIUE dropped to 5-16 overall and 2-7 in conference play.

"It wasn't the prettiest game, but it was nice to see our basketball team win it because we might not have done that maybe a month ago," Margenthaler said. "I think good teams find ways to win -- pretty or ugly -- and that's what we did tonight."

The Redhawks next game is on the road against Eastern Kentucky at 3 p.m. Saturday. The Southeast men will follow at 6 p.m.

Margenthaler is hopeful that junior forward Hillary Lively will be able to play Saturday and joked that they'd have the 'Strong 10' then.

"I really hope she's back [Wednesday] in practice because we need Hillary," Margenthaler said. "She's a strong, aggressive post player. She's got a high sprained ankle injury. It's been a little bit nagging on her. She saw the doctor. I believe she got released, so I think she'll be back in practice ... hopefully dressed, ready to go on Saturday."