Southeast Missouri State University student publication

Southeast Missouri State's women's basketball team snaps losing streak

Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Southeast forward Bailie Roberts fights for possession of the basketball with Austin Peay guard Shelby Olszewski (44) in the first half on Monday night's game. Southeast won 69-60. - Photo by Nathan Hamilton

The Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball team snapped a five-game losing streak with a much-needed win over Austin Peay Monday night.
. 


"Amazing, can't even describe it," said junior forward Bailie Roberts, who led Southeast to a 69-60 win with 10 points and 13 rebounds.

The Redhawks got off to a slow start with two early turnovers and letting Austin Peay take an eight-point lead with 13 minutes left in the first half.

The Redhawks began to close the gap with good play from their bench, which outscored Austin Peay's bench 17-3 in the first half.


Freshman guard Yelena Rosado gave the Redhawks a surge of energy off of the bench when she scored four points over stretch of one minute, 39 seconds. Rosado came in with nine minutes left in the half and impacted the game by making a steal and attacking the basket. She scored a layup that came with seven minutes left in the half to tie the game at 22. 


"I was really pleased with her play and believe this will only help with her confidence and she will continue to grow," Southeast coach Ty Margenthaler said. 


In addition to Rosado, freshman Allyson Bradshaw came through in a large way for the Redhawks off of the bench. She scored a game high of 17 points and made five 3-pointers.


"[Its] great to see Allyson make shots," Margenthaler said. "It's tremendous, when you make shots it opens up so much more for our players."


After Bradshaw got hot from behind the arc, Austin Peay was forced to adjust its defense in the second half. The adjustment allowed junior forward Brittany Harriel, who finished with 15 points and five rebounds, to get going after a slow first half, in which she scored three points.

"Every time you have to step up there with the confidence that you can knock them down," Harriel said. 


Harriel made three free throws in the final minute of the game and senior guards Bianca Beck and Karley Evans also pitched in two free throws each to seal the victory. 


"Anytime you can make free throws down the stretch and take care of the basketball, you're going to win those games," Margenthaler said.

The Redhawks improved their record to 2-7 in the Ohio Valley Conference, which puts them in ninth place, one and a half games back from eighth place Tennessee State. The top eight teams with the best conference record will qualify for the OVC Tournament.


"Definitely a big motivator," Harriel said. "This was a good win to propel us into that next game and give us confidence going up against Eastern Illinois."


The Redhawks will play at Eastern Illinois at 7 p.m. Feb. 1. Eastern Illinois is undefeated in the OVC games after playing eight conference games.

Comments