Game 21
Tennessee State (5-16, 1-10 OVC) vs. Southeast Missouri (4-16, 2-9 OVC) 
 
Game Information: 
Date: Saturday, February 1, 2025
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo. 
Venue: Show Me Center
Series: SEMO leads 30-24
 
Head Coaches
SEMO: Briley Palmer (4-16, 2-9 OVC | First Season)
TSU: Candice Dupree (5-16, 1-10 OVC | First Season)
 
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X: @OfficialSEMOWBB
Live Stats: semoredhawks.com
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: Real Rock 99.3 FM (Erik Sean & Tom Schuberth)
Tickets
 
Game Notes (PDF) 
Media Guide (PDF)
 
Redhawks Host Tennessee State Saturday
Southeast Missouri Women's Basketball (4-16, 2-9 OVC) will host Tennessee State (5-16, 1-10 OVC) to wrap-up a two-game homestand on Saturday, February 1. Tip-off is set for 1:30 p.m., CT. inside the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. 
 
Rowdy's Birthday
Saturday's contest marks the 20^th birthday celebration for Southeast Missouri's beloved mascot, Rowdy. The first 2,500 fans will receive a basketball Rowdy bobblehead, courtesy of Banterra Bank. Join the Redhawks at the Show Me Center for a birthday celebration including cake from Bon Bon's of Cape Girardeau, kid's activities, guest mascots, and plenty more for a fun afternoon. 
 
Holland College of Arts & Media Day
Saturday's contest is also Holland College of Arts & Media Day at SEMO Basketball. HCAM students, alumni, faculty and staff, and prospective students are invited to enjoy a tailgate and festivities on the northeast upper concourse before the men's basketball game. HCAM programs will be featured throughout both games of the doubleheader. 
 
Series History
The Redhawks and Tigers will meet for the second time this season and the 55^th time overall on Saturday afternoon. Earlier this season, SEMO defeated TSU by a final score of 75-68 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Redhawks lead the series by a 30-24 margin and are currently on a four-game winning streak against the Tigers. SEMO won the last matchup against TSU in Cape Girardeau in a nail biter by a final score of 48-47 at the Show Me Center.
 
Last Time Out
The Redhawks hosted UT Martin on Thursday night falling by a final score of 78-54 at the Show Me Center. Freshman center Ainaya Williams narrowly missed a triple double, turning in 16 points, nine rebounds, and recorded a season-high eight blocks. Fellow freshman Zoe Best led the Redhawks in scoring with 17 points as the freshman duo were the only Redhawks in double figures on the evening. 
 
As a team, SEMO shot 38.9-percent from the field, 25-percent from three (5-20), and 70-percent from the free throw line (7-10). 
 
SEMO dished out 13 assists, one more than UT Martin, led by Lexi McCully who finished with a game-high five assists on the evening.
 
Tournament Battle
The Redhawks enter Saturday's contest one game above the Tigers in the Ohio Valley Conference league table. At 2-9, SEMO is currently tied for eighth in the league with SIUE but maintains the head-to-head over the Cougars. TSU is one game back of SEMO at 1-10 and currently sits in last place in the league. Eight teams will go to Evansville, Indiana for the 2025 OVC Basketball Tournament March 5-8. 
 
Three-Point Percentage
Freshman Zoe Best ranks second in the Ohio Valley Conference in three-point percentage after going 3-10 in last night's game (30-percent). In 20 games, Best has made 52 three pointers on 141 attempts for an overall shooting percentage of 36.9. She trails Peyton Carter of Tennessee Tech who is shooting 38.6-percent (51-132). 
 
McCully Moving Up
Guard Lexi McCully, who previously ranked 11^th in the OVC in assists, ranks 10^th overall in the league in the assist category. McCully has dished out five assists in three-of-her-last-four games and is now averaging 3.0 APG. She has a 1.0 assist-to-turnover ratio heading into Saturday's game. 
 
Freshman on the Glass
The Redhawks are led by the freshman duo of Zoe Best and Ainaya Williams on the glass as the pair average 9.2 rebounds-per-game between the two. Best leads the Redhawks with 4.9 RPG with Williams following close behind with 4.5 RPG. Best currently ranks 19^th in the OVC in rebounding from her guard position. 
 
Career Night for Williams
Center Ainaya Williams continued her hot streak in last night's game against UT Martin as she recorded her fourth-straight game with double-digit points. Williams scored 16 points against UTM on 7-12 shooting. She hauled in nine more rebounds, having recorded nine rebounds in three-of-the-last-four games. Williams recorded eight blocks setting a new career-high, surpassing her previous high of five (11/25). She missed the all-time single-game record of 10 blocks set by LaTrese Saine during the 2021 season. 
 
Charity Stripe
The Redhawks have shot a decent free throw percentage as a team this season, clocking in at 70.4-percent from the foul line through 20 games. With a minimum of 20 attempts, Zoe Best leads the Redhawks at the foul line with an 81.0-percent mark (34-42). In the conference, SEMO ranks seventh overall trailing first place Western Illinois with a 78.1-percent mark. 
 
Sixth
Southeast Missouri has not been afraid to shoot the three ball as a team this season, leading the league in three-point attempts with 445 so far this season. Having made 140 of them, the Redhawks are shooting 31.5-percent from deep ranking them sixth in the OVC as a team. 
 
Scouting the Opponent
Tennessee State
The Tigers come into Saturday's matchup with a 5-16 overall record and just a 1-10 OVC mark having most recently lost to Little Rock in Nashville, Tennessee. TSU is led by first year head coach Candice Dupree. 
 
Three Tigers are scoring in double figures on the season, led by Somoah Kamara averaging 13.7 PPG. Aaniya Webb and Saniah Parker follow behind with 11.4 and 10.8 PPG, respectively. 
 
On the glass, Lyric Cole leads the Tigers hauling in 7.9 rebounds-per-game and scoring 7.3 PPG. She recorded a career-high 17 rebounds earlier this season against UNC Ashville. Off the bench, Kiki Roberts follows behind Cole hauling in 5.6 RPG. 
 
In Thursday's contest, TSU did their damage in the paint scoring 38 of 60 points inside the pain area.