Redhawks Claim Third Straight OVC Regular Season Title With 85-42 Win Over Jacksonville State in Season Finale :: Senior Missy Whitney led all players with game-high 21 points and four steals

March 2, 2008

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Senior center Missy Whitney (Charleston, Mo./Three Rivers CC) posted a game-high 21 points and four steals in leading Southeast Missouri State women's basketball to clinch its third straight Ohio Valley Conference regular-season championship with an 85-42 win over Jacksonville State in its season finale tonight at the Show Me Center. The Redhawks improved their record to 22-7 (17-3) with the win, while the Gamecocks fell to 11-18 (8-12) on the year.

The Gamecocks jumped out to a 6-2 lead at the 17:45 mark of the first half on a three-pointer by sophomore Kelsey Johnikin. Southeast bounced back with a 29-10 scoring drive over a 10-minute span with eight points by Whitney to capture a 31-16 advantage with 7:16 remaining. The Redhawks finished the half by scoring 13 of the final 22 points to enter intermission ahead by a 44-25 leading margin. Five Southeast players scored five or more points during the stanza.

The home team opened the second half with a 15-5 scoring drive in the first six minutes to increase its lead to 59-30 that ended with a three-pointer by junior guard Tarina Nixon (Gilbert, Ariz./Highland) at the 14:05 mark. A three-pointer by junior guard Tierra Johnson (Poplar Bluff, Mo./Three Rivers CC) later increased the Redhawks' leading margin to 71-38 with 6:10 left in the game. Jacksonville State would get no closer the rest of the way as Southeast finished the game with a 14-4 run.

Junior forward Rachel Blunt (Dexter, Mo./Dexter) contributed 13 points, seven rebounds and three assists for Southeast, while Nixon added 11 points. Junior forward Crysta Glenn (San Diego, Calif./Cowley County CC) paced the Redhawks with a game-high 11 rebounds to go along with seven points and junior guard Sonya Daugherty (St. Louis, Mo./Hancock) also produced seven points with a game-high six assists.

Jacksonville State was led by sophomore Jolie Efezokhae's 13 points and freshman Cierra Duhart added 11 points with seven caroms.

Whitney and Ashley Lovelady (Elkhart, Ind./Moberly Area CC) were honored for their contributions to the Southeast women's basketball program in a Senior Night ceremony after the game

The Redhawks will begin defense of their OVC Tournament championship at the Show Me Center on Tuesday, March 4 with a first round contest against Jacksonville State beginning at 7 p.m.