Mikala Hall Pours in 13 Points Despite Cougars' 80-57 Loss to Southeast Missouri

Feb 16, 2020 8:06 AM

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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Mikala Hall provided a career-best 13 points Saturday for SIUE women's basketball, but the Cougars fell 80-57 to the sharp-shooting Southeast Missouri Redhawks.

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"She (Hall) is playing hard and she is coachable," said SIUE Head Coach Paula Buscher. "It's pretty simple with me. If you give that effort all the time and you can lock eyes, be coachable and listen then we can help you. She is playing the game the right way."

The Cougars will now return home to First Community Arena at the Vadalabene Center for one of its most exciting events of the season – Education Day. More than 3,000 youngsters and administrators will be on hand for the 11 a.m. tip-off Thursday against Austin Peay. Buscher encouraged more fans to soak in the excitement.

"If you want to take an early lunch, come on out because we need all the energy we can get," said Buscher. "I think that home crowd can help us just get that one win to help these kids because they're working hard."

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On Saturday, SEMO captured its 20th win of the season and continues to set the pace in the Ohio Valley Conference. SIUE fell to 3-22 overall.

Tesia Thompson paced the Redhawks with 23 points followed by 19 from Carrie Shephard. But it was the play of Taelour, who was 5 of 5 on three-pointers, that made the difference for SEMO.

"That was huge for them because that changes things dynamically in what you can do," said Buscher. "When started down knocking shots, it's hard to run a zone."

SEMO also outrebounded the Cougars 40-27.

"We have to match their physicality on the boards," said Buscher. "There were times that we did but not that level of consistency that we need."

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