Southeast women's offense quiet in 30-point defeat

~ Eastern Illinois won in Cape for the first time since 2001

Southeast Missouri State couldn't slow down the Ohio Valley Conference's hottest women's basketball team.

Eastern Illinois continued to roll, crushing host Southeast 71-41 on Saturday for the Panthers' school-record 11th consecutive victory.

The Panthers improved to 16-8 overall and 11-1 in league play as they retained their OVC lead. They also beat Southeast in Cape Girardeau for the first time since 2001, snapping a nine-game road losing streak against the Redhawks.

"I love it today," EIU coach Brady Sallee said when asked if he likes the Show Me Center. "It's been a long time coming. I'd be lying if I didn't say I wasn't aware of it."

Southeast Missouri State's Katie Norman passes the ball while under pressure from defender Ta'Kenya Nixon during the first half Saturday night at the Show Me Center. (TIM BRUMITT)

Southeast (7-15, 4-8) fell to eighth in the 10-team OVC and is just one-half game removed from last place.

The Redhawks have lost seven of nine games, a string that began with a 67-39 defeat at EIU on Jan. 9.

"They're the best team in the league right now," Southeast coach John Ishee said of the Panthers. "They're very well coached. They get great ball movement and don't force anything."

Southeast once again played without its top three scorers who are all injured. The Redhawks' offense has struggled without the trio and that trend continued against EIU.

"Clearly we caught SEMO when they were banged up," Sallee said. "I think coach Ishee is doing as good of a job as anyone in this league right now."

The Redhawks entered play last in the OVC in scoring during league games with a 52.3 average. EIU was first in scoring defense against conference opponents at 53.9.

"We just struggle to score with the kids we have out right now," Ishee said.

Southeast, which briefly led twice early, was in solid shape at 17-17 midway through the first half.

But the Redhawks were shut out for the final 9 minutes, 31 seconds of the period as EIU used a 15-0 run to lead 32-17 at the intermission.

"I thought we played strong in the first half," freshman forward Brittany Harriell said. "Just the last nine minutes we couldn't hit a basket."

Said Ishee: "I thought we played a pretty solid first half, especially defensively. You just can't go nine minutes without a basket and expect to compete with the best team in the league."

EIU scored the first four points of the second half to go ahead 36-17 and the rout was on. The Panthers' biggest advantage was 34 points.

"They're definitely a good team," Harriell said.

Two freshmen were Southeast's offensive bright spots off the bench.

Harriell led the Redhawks with 12 points as she reached double figures for the first time in her young college career. Harriell hit both of her 3-point attempts after entering the night 2 of 12 from beyond the arc.

"Brittany played very well," Ishee said. "She's one of the smartest IQ basketball players we have."

Guard Erika Lane scored 11 points and grabbed a team-high four rebounds as Southeast was pounded on the boards 40-20.

"Erika's getting better," Ishee said.

Another freshman guard, Shela Fields, added nine points off the bench. She made 3 of 8 from 3-point range, but Ishee lauded Fields' defensive work.

The rest of the squad combined to score nine points as Southeast shot 33.3 percent from the field (16 of 48). The Redhawks were much better from long range, hitting 7 of 16 3-pointers for 43.8 percent.

"I thought we got good shots tonight. We just couldn't make any," Ishee said.

Southeast was hurt by senior center Lesley Adams, the team's leading rebounder, playing just 13 minutes because of foul trouble.

Sophomore point guard Bianca Beck dished out a career-high seven assists.

EIU, slicing through Southeast's defense, shot a blistering 51 percent (26 of 51).

Senior forward Maggie Kloak, senior guard Dominique Sims and freshman forward Sydney Mitchell paced EIU with 12 points apiece.

Freshman guard Jasmine Davis and junior wing Lauren Sharpe -- Southeast's Nos. 1 and 3 scorers -- have missed the last nine games after suffering season-ending injuries.

Freshman forward Bailie Roberts, the Redhawks' No. 2 scorer who has a foot problem, missed her sixth straight game.

"We try to focus on who we have healthy," Harriell said. "Just focus on who we have, not who we lost."

Ishee hopes to have Roberts back for Southeast's next contest, Thursday at home against Eastern Kentucky.

"She's getting closer," Ishee said.