Game 26
Western Illinois (13-12, 7-9 OVC) vs. Southeast Missouri (4-21, 2-14 OVC) 
 
Game Information: 
Date: Thursday, February 20, 2025
Time: 5:15 p.m., CT. 
Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo. 
Venue: Show Me Center
Series: Tied 9-9
 
Head Coaches: 
SEMO: Briley Palmer (4-21, 2-14 OVC | First Season)
WIU: JD Gravina (325-266 | 13^th Season)
 
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X: @OfficialSEMOWBB
Live Stats: semoredhawks.com
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: SEMO ESPN 93.5 FM or 1220 AM (Rusty Hendricks)
Tickets
 
Game Notes (PDF) 
Media Guide (PDF) 
 
Redhawks Continue Final Homestand Thursday Versus Western Illinois
Southeast Missouri Women's Basketball (4-21, 2-14 OVC) will host Western Illinois (13-12, 7-9 OVC) on Thursday, February 20, in the second-to-last home game of the season. Tip-off is set for 5:15 p.m., CT. from the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo. 
 
Series History 
The Redhawks and Leathernecks will meet for the second time this season with the first matchup coming in Macomb, Illinois. WIU won the game 94-66 (1/25) from Western Hall. A season ago, WIU came to Cape Girardeau and won 70-59 at the Show Me Center and are now on a two-game winning streak in the series. The Redhawks last victory over WIU came on January 4 in Macomb marking the first road victory of the season (2023-24). The series is tied 9-9 after the game earlier this season. 
 
Last Time Out
SEMO most recently hosted OVC-leading Tennessee Tech on Saturday afternoon in a matchup that saw TTU win 78-50 at the Show Me Center. Center Ainaya Williams led the Redhawks in scoring with 11 points as she was one-of-two Redhawks in double figures. Williams was 5-8 from the field in the contest and hauled in a team-high five rebounds. Guard Jariyah Williamson scored 10 points for the Redhawks including 2-2 from three-point range. 
 
As a team, SEMO shot 20-53 from the field (37.7%), 4-14 from three (28.6%), and just 6-12 at the foul line (50%).
 
Double Figures
Center Ainaya Williams, who led the Redhawks in scoring against Tennessee Tech, logged her 10^th double-digit performance on Saturday afternoon. Williams scored 11 points on 5-8 shooting for an efficient 62.5 field-goal percentage. She snagged five rebounds and two blocks in the loss. 
 
Career-High 
Freshman guard Tristan Spearman, who celebrated her birthday on Monday, is coming off a career-high performance against Tennessee Tech. Spearman dropped six points, shooting a perfect 2-2 from the field in eight minutes of action. She recorded an assist, a pair of steals, and knocked down two free throws (2-2). 
 
Welcome Back, 12
Newcomer Da'Kariya 'Lia' Jackson made her return to the court for the Redhawks on Saturday afternoon after missing nearly a month due to injury. In 14 minutes of action on Saturday, Jackson dropped in seven points on 2-9 shooting (22.2%) finishing 1-2 from three-point range. In just four games this season for SEMO, Jackson is averaging 14.3 PPG in 29.5 minutes-per-game. 
 
Back in the Lineup
Graduate student Sophie Bussard made her return to the starting lineup on Saturday afternoon. Bussard's last start came against SIUE at the Show Me Center nearly two months prior (12/21/24). She played 22 minutes against TTU recording an assist and a steal. 
 
Keep Shooting
The Redhawks are currently ranked third in the Ohio Valley Conference in team three-point field goals made. This season, SEMO has drained 168 three-pointers and are averaging 6.7 threes-per-game. WIU lands just behind the Redhawks in the OVC ranked fourth in the league. 
 
Up to 17^th
Ainaya Williams has been on a rebounding tear over the last six games and has moved her up to 17^th in the OVC in rebounding on the season. Williams, who has a career-high 11 rebounds against Indiana State (11/30), is averaging 5.2 RPG in just 22 games this season. Over the last four games, Williams is averaging 7.3 RPG including a near career-high 10 against Southern Indiana (2/8). She now has seven games this season with eight or more rebounds. 
 
Minutes Leader
Freshman guard Zoe Best leads the Redhawks in minutes-per-game on the season having played and started in all 25 games in 2024-25. Best is averaging 34.1 MPG and ranks third in the league in that category. In 25 games, Best has logged 852 minutes of action averaging 13.6 PPG this year. 
 
Scouting the Opponent
Leathernecks
Western Illinois comes into Thursday's matchup with a 13-12 overall record and a 7-9 mark in OVC play. Most recently, WIU defeated Morehead State in Macomb, Illinois by a final score of 78-73 in overtime. The Leathernecks are led by 13^th year head coach JD Gravina. 
 
Offensively WIU is led by standout forward Raegan McCowan. McCowan leads the OVC in scoring with 21.7 PPG while logging 543 points for the entire season. Fellow frontcourt mate Mia Nicastro is the only other Leatherneck averaging double figures at 14.8 PPG. 
 
McCowan and Nicastro rank third and fourth in the OVC in rebounding, respectively. McCowan is hauling in 7.8 RPG while Nicastro follows close behind with 7.4 RPG. Of 952 total rebounds for the Leathernecks, the frontcourt duo has hauled in 379 rebounds on the season. 
 
WIU is averaging 71.1 points-per-game and is allowing their opponents just 66.7 PPG. As a team, the Leathernecks are shooting 42.8-percent from the field, 33.4-percent from three, and an impressive 77.7-percent at the foul line.