Dec. 7, 2006

Box Score

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Senior center Lachelle Lyles (Chicago, Ill./Shelton State CC) tallied a career best 32 rebounds with 13 points as Southeast Missouri State women's basketball opened its OVC schedule with a 67-53 win over host Tennessee State Thursday evening at TSU's Gentry Center. The Redhawks evened their record at 3-3 (1-0), while the Tigers fell to 1-3 (0-1).

The 32 caroms are the most tallied in school and OVC single-game history, while ranking as the fourth-best individual total in NCAA Division I history. The last time a Division I player recorded 32-plus rebounds was Maureen Formanico of Pepperdine recording 33 boards against Loyola Marymount on Feb. 15, 1985.

Southeast gained an early 6-2 advantage on a Lyles layup at the 17:34 mark, but the Lady Tigers clawed back with a quick 7-2 run to take a 9-8 lead less than four minutes later. Sophomore guard Sonya Daugherty (St. Louis, Mo./Hancock) scored five points as part of 10-4 scoring drive in a three-minute span to help the Redhawks claim an 18-12 lead. After an Oby Okafor jumper gave TSU a short 22-21 advantage with 7:35 left in the half, Southeast scored 11 of the final 14 points to enter halftime with a 32-25 leading margin.

A 10-2 scoring drive to open the second half, culminating with a three-pointer from junior forward Missy Whitney (Charleston, Mo./Three Rivers CC) at the 15:56 mark, increased the Redhawks' leading margin at 42-29. Southeast claimed its biggest lead of the game at 52-37 on three-point basket by Tarina Nixon (Gilbert, Ariz./Highland) with 10:05 left in the game. The Lady Tigers would get no closer than 11 points the rest of the way. Lyles later grabbed her 30th rebound in the final minute with an offensive rebound.

In addition to Lyles, Whitney produced a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds and Daugherty tallied a career high-tying 13 points and seven rebounds for the Redhawks. Nixon finished with 12 points on the night while going 4-of-4 from the free-throw line. Sophomore forward Rachel Blunt (Dexter, Mo./Dexter) added eight points, six rebounds and three assists for Southeast.

Leading the Lady Tigers was Okafor, who finished with 11 points and 12 rebounds, while LaDona Pierce also recorded 11 points. Jheri Booker added nine points and seven rebounds for the Lady Tigers. Southeast shot 37 percent from the field and held TSU defensively to shoot 22 percent, while the Redhawks tallied a 69-49 advantage on the boards.

The Redhawks are back in action tomorrow evening at Tennessee Tech in a rematch from last season's OVC Tournament final with a start time of 5:30 p.m.