While you were away ... Southeast women's basketball

For the women's team, the winter break has been refueling and a grind, much like the men's.

"It's like the NBA baby!" coach Rekha Patterson said. "It's so nice for our girls to spend extended hours in the gym. I feel like they finally get the time they need during these types of breaks."

Patterson said during the longer break it's important to her as a coach to continue to provide opportunities for the team's chemistry to grow.

"We have been spending a lot of time together, and that's not just in the gym either," Patterson said. "We've had fans invite us over to have dinner at their home, we've celebrated birthdays and gone to the movies -- just anything fun to keep the girls together while no one else is really on campus."

The team had a few days off of practice following Christmas day but didn't waste any time hitting the ground running once they were able to get back into the gym.

"You know we have to push them to get them back into the swing of things, back into business mode that we all should be in," Patterson said. "But after that first day we were good to go."

Overall, Patterson has pushed her team to have a high level of competitiveness, especially on the road.

"The road hasn't been bad to us, really," Patterson said. "We know exactly who we have and when we have them, so our routine is the same every time. We can play our game every time."

The first competition of the break came with defeat as Southeast traveled to Memphis, Tennessee, and lost by two, 63-65.

The Germantown, Tennessee, native and senior guard Bri Mitchell put up a team-best 17 points during the contest, while junior Hannah Noe put up her ninth double-digit point game of the season with 13.

The team had a few days off to be in the gym together before competing in a three-game home stretch and the start of OVC play.

Southeast brought its non-conference schedule to a close on Dec. 19 defeating Alabama A&M, 75-47. The relatively tight game at halftime turned into a 30-point third quarter for Southeast as Hannah Noe set a new season high in scoring with 21 points.

Southeast had a gap of rest while celebrating the holidays, but the team was much in preparation for the beginning of OVC play on Dec. 29 against Tennessee Tech.

The team dropped the contest with a score of 74-63. Although rather quiet in the games prior according to points, senior guard/forward Olivia Hackmann led the team with 19 points. Mitchell also put up 13 points against Tennessee Tech.

"OVC play is all that really matters in the long run," Hackmann said. "We really wanted to start off with a win, but it just didn't happen for us."

Hackmann was aware she was nearing her 1,000th collegiate point, but didn't focus on it too much.

"I know it's a big accomplishment and all, but me getting to that goal doesn't exactly get us to Nashville and post-season, and that's the ultimate goal we all have to focus on," Hackmann said.

During the next OVC game, Hackmann became the 17th all-time member of the 1,000-point club as Southeast was defeated by Eastern Kentucky, with the exact score of their loss to Tennessee Tech, 74-63. Hackmann put up 26 points during the contest.

"I have had so much joy coaching O (Olivia) over the last two years," Patterson said. "She really is an awesome basketball player and I am so glad she reached that club."

This put the Redhawks into a 0-2 hole going into an OVC road swing in the state of Tennessee.

First up was Tennessee State on Jan. 5. Southeast put up 29 points in the fourth quarter, propelling the team to defeat Tennessee State 75-67. Junior guard Ashton Luttrull led the team with a career-best 20 points.

Southeast then traveled to compete against OVC rival Belmont and was defeated 77-89.

"Belmont has been a really good program for the time that I've known it," Hackmann said. "We made some things happen, but you just have to tip your hat to them."

Hackmann put up her fourth 20-point game of the season, seventh of her career.

After facing back-to-back defeats, Southeast found momentum beating UT Martin on the road, 82-79. Southeast has not defeated UT Martin since the 2009 season. Mitchell had a game-high 25 points and eight rebounds. Noe and Hackmann also put up double figures.

"Every time we step on the floor, this team knows that we have the ability to win," Patterson said. "We've got a new level of competitiveness about us and I'm excited to see where that can take us."

Southeast will conclude its four-game road swing at 7 p.m. Wednesday Jan. 18 at SIUE.

The team is at home again at 2 p.m. Saturday against Eastern Illinois.