March 6, 2008

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri State women's basketball players Missy Whitney (Charleston, Mo./Three Rivers CC) and Tarina Nixon (Gilbert, Ariz./Highland) were recognized by the coaches and sports information directors of the Ohio Valley Conference as they captured All-OVC honors, the conference announced tonight at the Hilton Nashville Downtown. Whitney was named First Team All-OVC and Nixon was selected Second Team All-OVC.

The 6-2 Whitney currently leads Southeast with 14.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game which ranks her among the conference leaders in all three categories after being named the Preseason OVC Player of the Year prior to the start of the season. She has produced 18 double figure scoring games this season and seven 20-point outings that include a 28-point performance on Nov. 11 against Tulsa. In addition, Whitney ranks fifth on Southeast's all-time blocked shots record book with 84 career swats that include 39 this year. She earned Second Team All-OVC and OVC All-Newcomer honors last season.

Nixon, a three-year starter, captured her first-ever honor from the conference after averaging 11.6 points, 3.4 assists and 2.3 assists per game against conference opponents. Overall, she leads the team in assists (2.9 apg) and steals (2.0 spg) while scoring an average of 9.9 points per contest. She posted a career-best 23 points at Tennessee State on Jan. 17, a career-high eight assists at Samford on Dec. 20 and a career-high 45 minutes in a nationally-televised game against UT Martin on Feb. 2.

Murray State junior guard/forward Ashley Hayes claimed OVC Player of the Year honors, while Samford freshman guard Emily London was named OVC Freshman of the Year. Fourth-year Tennessee State head coach Tracee Wells garnered OVC Coach of the Year accolades.

Southeast takes on Eastern Illinois in a semifinal contest at the 2008 OVC Tournament at Municipal Auditorium tomorrow afternoon with the tip-off set for 12 Noon.