Feb. 24, 2005

Final Stats |  Photo Gallery

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - (Thursday, February 24, 2005) The Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team knows it will be hosting a home game in the first round of the Ohio Valley Conference Championship Tournament, but they played like a team fighting for a their tournament lives, the way visiting Murray State should have played. Playing with defensive intensity and offensive efficiency the Redhawks routed the Lady Racers, 86-69 Thursday evening in the Show Me Center.

The Redhawks jumped up early of the Lady Racers opening the game on a 20-4 run. That 16-point lead was the largest lead of the first half.

The Lady Racers managed to cut into the Redhawks lead at one point, cutting it into single digits, 31-24 with 4:59 left in the half.

The Redhawks responded with a 14-4 run to end the half, capped by a Natalie Purcell (Auckland, New Zealand/Hutchinson CC) three-pointer before the buzzer to give the Redhawks a 17-point lead, 45-28.

Southeast shot 48-percent in the first half and held the Lady Racers to 26-percent. The Redhawks utilized their presence in the post by outscoring the Lady Racers 18-8 in the paint.

Tatiana Conceicao (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Western Nebraska CC) was the main culprit as she scored 12 points on 4-4 shooting in the half.

In the second half the Lady Racers could only manage to pull within 10 points, 52-42 on a Rebecca Remington lay-up at 14:47.

The Redhawks used a 16-5 run to grab their largest lead of the game 68-45 at 10:49 and coasted the remainder of the game to the 21-point victory.

Chandra Brown (Louisville, KY/Southeastern Illinois CC) and Conceicao each scored 17 points to tie the Lady Racers Jessie Hirsch for game-high honors.

Brown recorded her fifth double-double of the season, grabbing a co game-high 10 rebounds (6 offensive). It is Brown's eighth double-double of her career.

Brown played her best all-around game to date as she made 8-9 from the field, dished out four assists, stole two balls and blocked two shots.

Her two blocks ties her with Pam Iversen for sixth on the school's all-time career blocks list with 69 career blocks. Additionally she is only three blocks away from tying the school's record for blocks in a season at 46.

Conceicao made 6-11 from the field and grabbed five rebounds in 25 minutes.

Purcell scored 13 points with nine of those points coming via the three-pointer.

Simone Jackson (Kingston, Jamaica/Southeastern Illinois CC) added 12 points to round out the double-digit scorers for the Redhawks. She also grabbed eight rebounds and dished out four assists.

Brandi Russia (Cincinnati, OH/Northeastern Oklahoma A&M) recorded a game-high five assists.

Tiffanne Ryan (Oklahoma City, OK/Westmoore) once again provided a spark off the bench with a season-high nine points. She also handed-out three assists, collected four rebounds and swiped three passes.

The Redhawks nearly broke the school record for three-pointers attempted in a game with 32 attempts. The record is 34 set during the 2002-03 season.

The Lady Racers leading scorer Remington was held to nine points.

The Redhawks conclude the regular season on Saturday at the Show Me Center. Before the game the Redhawks three seniors; Russia, Brown and Miah Shelford (Auckland, New Zealand/Northeastern Oklahoma A&M) will be honored. Tip-off is set for 5:00 p.m.

NOTES FROM THE HARDCOURT: The Redhawks extended their home winning streak against OVC opponents to 15-straight wins...The Redhawks have won six-straight against the Lady Racers at the Show Me Center...Southeast made nine three-pointers, giving them 199 for the season. The school record for three's made in a season is 202 set by last years team...One more OVC victory will tie this years team with 1990-91 and 1989-90 squads for the most conference victories. The 13 OVC wins are already the most victories by a Southeast team since joining the OVC in 1991...The Redhawks have now made at least one three-pointer in 209-straight games.