Southeast women try to extend road streak

~ Redhawks can move to 6-0 in OVC road games today at Tennessee Tech.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Southeast Missouri State women's basketball coach John Ishee knew his team would be tested by its early run of Ohio Valley Conference road games.

So far the Redhawks have passed with flying colors, and another win today would put them in a solid position as they chase their third straight OVC regular-season title.

The Redhawks (11-6, 6-2) are 5-0 in OVC road games heading into a 3 p.m. contest at struggling Tennessee Tech (3-15, 2-6).

Today's matchup will conclude a stretch for Southeast that has seen it play six of seven conference games away from home.

"We knew this stretch would be tough, and if we came out of it in good shape, then we'd be in a pretty good position [in the OVC race]," Ishee said. "So far we've done well, and if we could finish it up with another win [today], it would put us right where we want to be."

Southeast won for the seventh time in eight games Thursday as the Redhawks overcame a five-point second-half deficit to roll past host Tennessee State 70-51.

That victory kept the Redhawks in a second-place OVC tie, and they're even on the loss side with conference leader Eastern Illinois.

"It was a good way to start this trip," said junior point guard Tarina Nixon, who led Southeast with a career-high 23 points. "We're just going to get focused and take it like it's another big game."

Southeast was able to beat Tech 66-60 on Dec. 8 in Cape Girardeau despite not having its top two players.

Junior guard Sonya Daugherty, the Redhawks' leading scorer, missed the contest due to a team suspension.

Senior center Missy Whitney, Southeast's No. 2 scorer and top rebounder, did not play because of an injury.

Junior forward Rachel Blunt helped pick up the slack that night with a game-high 17 points.

"If we can win [today], we'd be where we want to be," Blunt said.

Tech, the dominant women's basketball program in OVC history, has fallen on hard times recently.

The Eagles, who have won a league-record 15 regular-season titles and nine tournament crowns, had posted nine winning seasons in a 10-year period before going 12-18 last season under first-year coach Amy Brown.

Tech has had just three losing records since the OVC started sponsoring women's basketball in the 1977-78 season.

It would take an incredible hot streak for the Eagles to avoid their first back-to-back losing campaigns. They are tied for ninth in the 11-team OVC.

Still, Ishee considers the Eagles dangerous, particularly at home.

Tech is led by 6-foot-1 senior center Kristina Tyler, who ranks among the top 10 in the OVC in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots.

Tyler is averaging 15.9 points and 6.9 boards. In conference play, she is averaging 17.8 points.

The Eagles have struggled with their 3-point shooting, ranking last in the OVC at 28.3 percent.