Game 22
Southeast Missouri (4-17, 2-10 OVC) at Morehead State (7-15, 2-10 OVC) 
 
Game Information: 
Date: Thursday, February 6, 2025
Time: 4:00 p.m., CT. 
Location: Morehead, Ky. 
Venue: Johnson Arena/FamilyLeisure.com Court
Series: SEMO leads 31-23
 
Head Coaches: 
SEMO: Briley Palmer (4-17, 2-10 OVC | First Season)
MSU: Chris Palmer (7-15, 2-10 OVC | First Season)
 
Follow the Redhawks: 
X: @OfficialSEMOWBB
Live Stats:  MSUEagles.com
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: Real Rock 99.3 FM (Erik Sean)
 
Game Notes (PDF)
Media Guide (PDF)

Redhawks Begin Three-Game Road Swing Thursday at Morehead State
Southeast Missouri Women's Basketball (4-17, 2-10 OVC) will trek to the Bluegrass State for a showdown with Morehead State (7-15, 2-10 OVC) in Morehead, Ky., on Thursday, February 6. Tip-off is slated for 4:00 p.m., CT. from Johnson Arena. 
 
Series History
The Redhawks and Eagles will meet for the second time this season with the first matchup coming in Cape Girardeau to the tune of a 64-61 victory for MSU on January 11. SEMO holds the overall record in the series with a 31-23 margin, including a 70-63 victory in Morehead, Ky. the last time the Redhawks visited the longtime rival (Feb. 29, 2024). 
 
Last Time Out
The Redhawks most recently hosted Tennessee State last Saturday afternoon (Feb. 1) falling 70-62 inside the Show Me Center. Senior Lexi McCully led the Redhawks in scoring finishing with 16 points on 6-19 shooting. Skylar Barnes was the only other Redhawk in double figures as the senior finished with 11 points. The senior backcourt duo accounted 27-of-SEMO's-62 points on Saturday. 
 
As a team, the Redhawks shot 21-63 from the field (33.3%), and just 7-28 from three-point range (25%). At the free throw line, SEMO shot 81.3-percent led by Brianna Hill who finished 4-6 at the charity stripe. 
 
SEMO won the battle on the boards, outrebounding the Tigers by a 36-28 margin led by Ainaya Williams with eight rebounds. Zoe Best snagged seven boards while Barnes recorded five for the contest.
 
Win the Boards
Saturday's contest marked the fourth game of the 2024-25 season that the Redhawks outrebounded their opponent. SEMO outrebounded TSU by a 36-28 margin led by freshman center Ainaya Williams who finished with eight boards. The Redhawks dominated second chance opportunities, grabbing 13 offensive rebounds to TSU's six. 
 
League Table
The Redhawks enter Thursday's contest in a four-way tie for eighth place, including Morehead State (2-10), Tennessee State (2-10), and SIUE (2-10). On the season, SEMO has split the season series with TSU and will face MSU for the second time this season. A matchup with SIUE will come later this month (Feb. 27). At the top, three teams are tied for first place in the league at 10-2 including Tennessee Tech, Lindenwood, and Eastern Illinois. 
 
Fifth From Deep
Heading into Thursday's contest, the Redhawks currently rank fifth in the Ohio Valley Conference in team three-point field goal percentage. Through 21 games, SEMO has drained 147 threes out of 473 attempts for a 31.1 shooting percentage. Southern Indiana leads the conference with a 36.5-percentage from deep. 
 
Offensive Glass
After Saturday's 13 offensive rebounds, SEMO currently ranks ninth in the OVC on the offensive glass. The Redhawks have hauled in 216 offensive rebounds, averaging 10.3 per game through 21 games. 
 
Turnover Margin
As a team, the Redhawks rank seventh in the league in turnover margin. SEMO has forced 394 turnovers against their opponents this season averaging 18.8 turnovers-per-game. 
 
Cracking the Top 25
Center Ainaya Williams has cracked the top 25 in rebounds in the league, averaging 4.7 rebounds-per-game in just 18 games for the Redhawks. Williams has eight or more rebounds in four-of-the-last-five games including three games with nine boards. She currently ranks 21^st in the OVC. 
 
Ninth
Guard Lexi McCully is now tied for ninth in the OVC in assists. Through 21 games, McCully has dished out 63 assists and is averaging 3.0 assists-per-game. She is currently tied with Chloe Larry of Tennessee Tech. She has dished out 5+ assists in six games this season, including three-of-the-last-five games. 
 
Barnes in Double Figures
Skylar Barnes returned to double-digit points on Saturday afternoon dropping in 11 points on 4-9 shooting against TSU. Barnes has scored 10+ points in seven-of-the-last-nine games for the Redhawks, including a six-game streak with 10 or more points. She has scored 163 points on the season in just 18 games played, averaging 9.1 PPG. 
 
Not in Her Paint
Center Ainaya Williams continues to be a force on the defensive end of the floor in the paint as she ranks second in the OVC in blocked shots. Over the last two games, Williams has recorded 12 blocks averaging 6.0 blocks-per-game. She has 36 blocks on the season through 18 games which already ties her for 10^th in single-season program history with Courtney Shiffer (2010-11). In three less games, Williams trails EIU's Macy McGlone for the top spot in the league (2.1 BPG). 
 
In the Nation
Before Thursday's game, the Redhawks are currently ranked in the top 100 of all NCAA Division I Women's Basketball in turnovers forced per game. Through 21 games, the Redhawks are causing 18.7 turnovers-per-game led by Indiya Bowen with 37 steals this season. Bowen is averaging 1.9 steals-per-game over 19 games played in 2024-25. 
 
Scouting the Opponent
Eagles
Morehead State comes into Thursday's contest with a 7-15 overall record and are 2-10 in the OVC. MSU is tied with SEMO for eight place in the league but hold the tiebreaker over the Redhawks from their win earlier this season. 
 
The Eagles are currently on a six-game losing skid most recently falling to league-leading Tennessee Tech by a final score of 82-73 in Morehead. Head Coach Chris Palmer is in his first season as the Eagles' head coach. 
 
This season, MSU is averaging 66.8 points-per-game while allowing 73.6 PPG to their opponents for a -6.8-scoring margin. They are shooting 40.1-percent on the season from the field and just 26.0-percent from three-point range. Kate Novik leads the Eagles in scoring, averaging 13.4 PPG having scored 215 points through just 16 games. 
 
OVC Freshman of the Week Chrishawn Coleman has scored the most points on the team. Through 22 games, Coleman has recorded 244 points, averaging 11.1 PPG.