The Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball team put on a great defensive performance in a 50-39 win over Tennessee State Saturday night.

"This is great for all of us," forward Brittany Harriel said. "It's all due to great defense and playing together."

Both teams started the game off by making their defensive presence felt forcing six missed shots and one turnover between both teams, with neither team allowing any points for the first two minutes.

The Redhawks would get their first basket on a layup from center Courtney Shiffer. Senior guard Bianca Beck scored the Redhawks' next five points on a 3-pointer and a mid-range jump shot.

"For our team to win, I need to be more aggressive," Beck said. "If I'm more aggressive, I'll have more people paying attention to me on defense and that gets my teammates open because I'm more of a threat."

Beck averages 6.4 points and 4.1 rebounds a game for the season but on Saturday night Beck was more aggressive. She shot the ball 12 times and scored 12 points, and added six defensive rebounds and three steals.

"We're just a different team when she's out there," coach Ty Margenthaler said. "She's a workhorse, a leader, a senior and wants this so bad."

After Beck's short run to put the Redhawks up 7-2, Tennessee State had a run of its own led by guard Jasmin Shuler. Tennessee State scored seven points and applied more defensive pressure holding the Redhawks scoreless for four minutes.

The Redhawks would get back on the scoreboard and tie the game with a jump shot from forward Brittany Harriel who finished with eight points, a career high 15 rebounds and two blocks. Beck then followed this with a steal and a layup at the other end to give her team the lead.

After taking the lead with 11 minutes left in the half, the Redhawks never looked back and finished the first half up 28-21.

The Redhawk's defense forced six turnovers and held Tennessee State to 8-of-33 on field goals in the first half. The Tigers average over 70 points a game this season.

"Coach did a good job on the scouting report," Beck said. "We stayed with the game plan on how to defend them. We knew every player and how to guard them."

The Redhawks' good defensive play came back in the second half, when they held Tennessee State to 5-for-25 shooting from the field and forced 10 turnovers.

The Redhawks were able to hold on to their lead with help from Courtney Shiffer, who had eight points and two steals, and Patricia Mack who scored eight points, and added two blocks and one steal off of the bench.

This win put the Redhawks record in the Ohio Valley Conference at 3-8 putting them in ninth place in the OVC.

"Very big win," Beck said. "It was a must win for us tonight to get us in the conference tournament."

The Redhawks will play at Murray State at 5:15p.m. Feb. 11. Murray State is sixth in the OVC.