CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (Interstat) — The Southeast Missouri State women’s basketball team will look to build on a decisive win and extend Eastern Illinois’ prolonged losing streak when the Ohio Valley Conference rivals meet Thursday at the Show Me Center. The Redhawks (4-7) enter the New Year’s Day matchup after a 91-62 victory over William Woods on Dec. 30, where Kearra Jones scored 18 points in just 18 minutes. Jones, a player to watch for the home team, is averaging 12.3 points over her last three games. She will face an Eastern Illinois squad mired in a 10-game skid. The Panthers (1-12) last won on Nov. 29 and are coming off an 87-55 home loss to Lindenwood on Dec. 21. Guard Clara Glad, the Panthers’ key player, scored 11 points in that defeat and has been a consistent offensive presence, including a 16-point performance against North Dakota State on Dec. 11. Southeast Missouri State holds a distinct advantage in the early season ledger. The Redhawks’ four wins include two against non-Division I opponents, but they also secured a road victory at Wichita State. Eastern Illinois’ lone win came at Bellarmine in November, and the Panthers have faced a difficult non-conference schedule with road losses to power-conference teams Louisville and Michigan State. The game marks the conference opener for both teams. History favors the Redhawks at home, where they are 3-1 this season, while the Panthers are 0-7 in true road games. For Eastern Illinois, stopping Jones and containing Lexi McCully, who dished out seven assists in the last outing, will be critical. The Panthers will need Glad and Tiny Lewis, who had 14 points and six rebounds against Lindenwood, to provide significant scoring to challenge the Redhawks. Tipoff is scheduled for Thursday afternoon in Cape Girardeau.