Feb. 24, 2008

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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Junior forward Rachel Blunt (Dexter, Mo./Dexter) scored a season-best 19 points in 23 minutes of play in leading Southeast Missouri State women's basketball to claim a share of its third consecutive Ohio Valley Conference regular-season crown with a 68-52 victory over Eastern Kentucky Saturday night at the Show Me Center. the Redhawks improve to 21-6 (16-2) on the year, while the loss dropped the Colonels drop their season record to 13-11 (8-9).

The Redhawks posted an early 7-2 lead on a three-pointer by junior guard Sonya Daugherty (St. Louis, Mo./Hancock) at the 17:27 mark, but the visitors evened the score at 7-all a minute and a half later on a three by senior Ashley Cazee and a layup from senior Crystal Jones. Senior center Missy Whitney (Charleston, Mo./Three Rivers CC) and Daugherty posted conventional three-point plays as part of an 8-2 run over a six-plus minute span to claim a 15-9 advantage with 9:28 remaining in the half. After sophomore Shavonne Jones and Cazee each hit a pair of free throws to bring the Colonels to within 15-13 at the 8:38 mark, the Redhawks finished the half with a 19-8 scoring drive that included seven points from Blunt to enter intermission ahead by a 34-21 margin.

EKU scored eight of the first 10 points of the second half to slice its deficit to 36-29 at the 16:10 mark on a jumper from Crystal Jones. A pair of Whitney free throws at 16:03 sparked a quick 7-2 run that went over two minutes to increase Southeast's leading margin to 44-31. Blunt later connected on a layup with 10:26 left in the game as the Redhawks took a 50-36 lead. The Colonels then notched a 10-5 within a 3:07 stretch to slice the home team's lead to nine points (55-46) with 5:41 remaining, but Whitney and Blunt each scored four points in the Redhawks' game-closing 13-6 scoring drive in the final minutes for the victory.

Whitney posted a double-double of 17 points and a career high-tying 15 rebounds, while Daugherty contributed 13 points and seven caroms. Senior guard Ashley Lovelady (Elkhart, Ind./Moberly Area CC) added eight points, seven boards and three assists for the Redhawks.

Eastern Kentucky was paced by senior Crystal Jones' double-double of 18 points and 14 boards to go along with a game-high four steals. Senior Ashley Cazee added 12 points and contributed a game-high four assists for the visitors.

Southeast continues its homestand on Feb. 28 with an OVC battle against Samford at the Show Me Center with a start time of 5 p.m.