Jan. 30, 2007

Box Score

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Junior forward Missy Whitney (Charleston, Mo./Three Rivers CC) tallied a double-double of a game-high 21 points and 12 rebounds as Southeast Missouri State captured a 67-56 win in Ohio Valley Conference action Monday night over visiting Austin Peay at the Show Me Center. Southeast improved its record to 15-6 (10-3) with the win and the Lady Govs drop to 7-14 (6-6) with the loss.

The Redhawks claimed a 9-1 lead in the first three minutes of the game that included four points from sophomore guard Sonya Daugherty (St. Louis, Mo./Hancock). Senior Saundra Hale highlighted a 10-1 Austin Peay scoring drive with a pair of three pointers that gave the visitors its second lead of the contest at 11-10. A jumper from sophomore forward Rachel Blunt (Dexter, Mo./Dexter) at the 8:34 mark capped a streak in which Southeast had scored 11 of the next 17 points over a near six points to gain a 21-17 advantage. After a pair of free throws by sophomore Tarina Nixon (Gilbert, Ariz./Highland) put the home team on top 25-20 with five minutes remaining, the Lady Govs bounced back by producing a 13-6 run, including a Hale trey at the buzzer, to head into the half with a 33-31 lead.

Hale gave Austin Peay its biggest lead of the game at four (35-31) with a jumper just 11 seconds in the second half. Whitney scored 12 points as Southeast tallied 24 points of the next 39 points over a 12-plus minute stretch to capture at 55-50 with 7:20 remaining in the game. Consecutive baskets by junior Kellea Reeves later pulled the Lady Govs to within 57-54 at the 5:19 mark, but the Redhawks closed the game with a 10-2 run, including five points from Nixon, for the final margin.

In addition to her double-double, Whitney also tied a career-best three blocked shots for the second game in a row. Nixon added 17 points and was 3-of-5 from three-point range, while Daugherty finished with 10 points and five assists for the Redhawks. Senior center Lachelle Lyles (Chicago, Ill./Shelton State CC) produced a game-high 17 rebounds to become Southeast's single-season rebounding leader in addition to producing seven points and a career high-tying three steals.

Reeves led Austin Peay with 18 points on 8-of-14 shooting. Watson added 13 points and eight rebounds, while Hale posted 13 points and junior Ashlee McGee recorded six rebounds.

The Redhawks, who moved into a tie for first place with Morehead State, return to Tennessee this Saturday for an OVC contest at Tennessee-Martin with a start time of 4 p.m.