Southeast women's basketball team hosts Illinois-Chicago before Christmas break

The Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team has a chance to enter Ohio Valley Conference play with a winning record for the first time since the 2008 season.

For that to happen the Redhawks (5-6) will have to secure wins in its final two non-conference games -- the first being a meeting with Division II Illinois-Springfield at 2 p.m. today at the Show Me Center.

Southeast is 1-2 on its home court this season, with its lone home win coming in the season opener more than a month ago.

"We need to start taking care at home," Southeast coach Ty Margenthaler said. "We haven't played real well at home. That's something now where we need to get on that roll because it'd be nice if we could win out at home. If we do that we're going to have a great, great year.

"But we're not going to take Illinois-Springfield lightly. As a coach it worries me just because the time off. I know they know when that game's over we're going to be off for four days, going into break. I've been on good teams where we've lost going into break against a team maybe we shouldn't have, so I really want to try to keep them focused this week. Finish off strong and then they can enjoy their time."

Before practice Wednesday, Margenthaler emphasized to his players the need to remain focused on basketball before they get four days to spend time with family for Christmas. Adding to Margenthaler's concern was a few days without practice during finals week following a grueling road stretch. The Redhawks will conclude non-conference when they host NAIA William Woods on Dec. 30.

"It stresses me because we can't take them at all lightly," Margenthaler said about Illinois-Springfield. "We've got to be ready. I want this game to be a game where we really just come out and have a lot of energy and really look good at home, and have that good taste before we come back. That's the goal."

The Prairie Stars (4-4) are coming off a 72-47 loss to Lincoln University of Jefferson City, Missouri.

Illinois-Springfield is led in scoring by sophomore guard Caroline Kelty with 11.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.

Senior guard Courtney Knuckles, a Poplar Bluff graduate, and freshman guard Shelbi Patterson average 10.6 and 10.8 ppg, respectively.

Sophomore forward Syerra Cunningham averages 9.6 points and 7.8 rebounds.

Margenthaler wanted to focus on his team heading into today's game rather than the upcoming opponent. He had a few concepts on both ends of the court that the Redhawks are working on to tune up in time for conference play, including adding a wrinkle to their zone defense and getting the ball into the post players more.

Southeast is coming off a 78-62 loss to Idaho in the Glass City Classic in Toledo, Ohio, which snapped a three-game winning streak and a four-game road winning streak.

Sophomore guard Ashton Luttrull suffered a concussion in that game and freshman forward Deja Jones sprained her ankle, and neither are expected to play today.

"The biggest thing that I've liked this year so far is that we're just staying together," Margenthaler said. "We've lost some games, we've won some games, but attitude-wise and mentally we haven't gone through that roller coaster. They've really stayed pretty even keel and taken things in stride and the biggest thing is I hear them talking and they know they can win on the road now. That's what they're bringing up. I know [senior guard] Allyson [Bradshaw's] one of them that said, 'We haven't won that many games in a row since I've been here.' To have that talk and that confidence when we do go on the road is nice."