Feb. 26, 2008

Southeast-Samford2 Game Notes

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -

Samford (21-7, 14-4) at
Southeast Missouri State (21-6, 16-2)
Ohio Valley Conference Game
Thursday, Feb. 28, 2008 - 5 p.m.
Show Me Center (7,000) - Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Series History: SEMO leads 10-2
Last Meeting: SEMO, 69-60 (12/18/08)
Ishee vs. Samford: 4-0
Radio: ESPN/KGIR 1220 AM - Erik Sean (PBP), Jess Bolen (Color)

TIP-OFF: Southeast Missouri State women's basketball enters the final week of the 2007-08 regular season at the Show Me Center as it welcomes Samford for a Thursday evening Ohio Valley Conference showdown with a start time of 5 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on the radio at ESPN/KGIR 1220 AM with Erik Sean (Play-by-Play) and Jess Bolen (Color) calling the action to being featured live online at OVCSports.tv.

SCOUTING THE REDHAWKS: Southeast opens the final week of the season sporting a 21-6 overall record and has produced a 16-2 conference ledger. The Redhawks posted a 68-52 win over Eastern Kentucky last Saturday. Southeast is led by senior forward/center Missy Whitney with 14.2 points, seven rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game, while junior guard Tarina Nixon is averaging a team-leading 2.9 assists and 2.1 steals a game. Junior guard/forward Sonya Daugherty ranks second with 12.8 points, 2.4 assists and two steals per contest.

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS: Samford continues its season-ending four-game road trip this week with a 21-7 record that includes a 14-4 mark against OVC opposition. The Bulldogs opened their road swing last week with a 71-60 win at Tennessee Tech before dropping a 74-64 decision at Murray State. Freshman guard Emily London is averaging 12.5 points a game and connecting on 51.8 percent of her attempts from the field to lead Samford. Redshirt sophomore guard Monica Maxwell is second on the team in scoring at 10.7 points per contest and has produced a team-best 1.1 steals a game. Senior guard Taryn Towns is averaging a team-leading 3.8 assists a game and freshman forward Savannah Hill leads the Bulldogs in rebounding with an average of 4.9 boards per game. Head Coach Mike Morris has tallied a record of 90-79 record in five-plus seasons at Samford.

SERIES HISTORY: The Redhawks have produced a 10-2 lifetime mark against Samford in the all-time series between the two squads since the Bulldogs joined the OVC in 2003-04. Southeast has claimed victories in seven of the last nine meetings and claimed the teams' first meeting on Dec. 18 in Birmingham by a 69-60 margin. The Redhawks are 5-0 all-time against Samford in games played at the Show Me Center.

SWEET HOME SHOW ME CENTER: The Redhawks return to the Show Me Center for the final two weeks of the year with a season-long four-game homestand. Southeast currently holds a 10-3 record at the SMC this season and is 6-2 against OVC opponents.

LOVELADY AIMS FOR SCORING MILESTONE: Senior guard Ashley Lovelady is closing in on a milestone entering the final week of the season as she needs two points to tally 500 points in her Southeast career. The Elkhart, Ind., native has tallied 498 career points after scoring 22 points last week that included a 14-point performance Feb. 20 against Austin Peay at the SMC.

BLUNT POSTS SEASON HIGH VERSUS EKU: Junior Rachel Blunt produced a season-best 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting in last Saturday's home victory over Eastern Kentucky. The 6-0 forward's previous season high-total was a 17-point performance on Dec. 8 against Tennessee Tech.

UP NEXT: Southeast welcomes Jacksonville State to the Show Me Center on Saturday, March 1 in the regular season finale for both teams with a start time of 5 p.m. Prior to the game, seniors Ashley Lovelady and Missy Whitney will be honored in a Senior Day ceremony.