Nov. 23, 2007

Box Score

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Junior forward Sonya Daugherty (St. Louis, Mo./Hancock) recorded a game-high 19 points and eight rebounds, but Texas State had three players score in double figures en route to capturing an 80-47 win over Southeast Missouri State women's basketball today at the New Mexico State Thanksgiving Classic in NMSU's Pan American Center. The Bobcats improve their record to 3-1 on the year, while the Redhawks' season record fell to 4-1.

Texas State posted an early 18-10 advantage in the first 10-plus minutes of the game that culminated with a three-pointer from senior Brooke DeGrate at the 9:27 mark. Daugherty then tallied a 7-2 run in less than a minute to help Southeast slice its deficit at 20-17 before the Bobcats produced a 14-7 scoring drive in the final eight-plus minutes of the first half to head into halftime with a 34-24 lead. Senior Joyce Ekworomadu and DeGrate combined to score nine points during the run.

The Redhawks opened the second half with a three-point play by senior center Missy Whitney (Charleston, Mo./Three Rivers CC) that pulled them to within seven points (34-27) in the opening seconds of the second stanza. A 43-15 run over a stretch of 13 minutes hiked Texas State's leading margin to 77-42 with under five minutes remaining in the contest. Southeast got no closer than 32 points for the rest of the game.

Whitney and junior forward Rachel Blunt (Dexter, Mo./Dexter) each added six points and four rebounds for the Redhawks. Junior guard Tierra Johnson (Poplar Bluff, Mo./Three Rivers CC) producing six points, while senior guard Ashley Lovelady (Elkhart, Ind./Moberly Area CC) posted five rebounds and two assists.

Ekworomadu recorded 14 points, eight caroms and three assists to pace Texas State. Junior Ashley Cole added 12 points on 6-of-12 shooting with eight rebounds, while junior Kim Cessna contributed 10 points.

Southeast closes the NMSU Thanksgiving Classic at the Pan Am Center tomorrow evening against Northern Colorado with a start time of 5 p.m.