Dec. 17, 2006

Box Score

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Junior forward Missy Whitney (Charleston, Mo./Three Rivers CC) was one of four Southeast Missouri State players in double figures with a career-best 36 points in leading the Redhawks to a 90-83 Ohio Valley Conference victory over Jacksonville State this afternoon at the Show Me Center. Southeast improved its season record to 5-4 (2-1), while the Gamecocks fell to 4-8 (1-2) on the year.

Whitney became the first Redhawk to hit the 30-point plateau since former Southeast player Tatiana Conceciao tallied 30 points last season against Henderson State at the Show Me Center.

Southeast broke an early 2-2 tie with an 8-4 run to claim a 10-6 advantage on a three-pointer from junior guard Ashley Lovelady (Elkhart, Ind./Moberly Area CC) six minutes into the game. Jacksonville State responded by scoring 15 of the next 26 points over a six-minute stretch, including seven points from junior Courtney Slaughter, to even the score at 21-21 with 9:21 left in the half. After a sophomore LaTonya McKinney trey gave the visitors a 26-25 advantage just a minute later, the Redhawks closed out the half with a 15-8 scoring drive behind nine points from Whitney to capture a 40-34 advantage entering intermission.

The Gamecocks rebounded from their first half deficit with a 14-7 scoring drive in the first five-plus minutes of the second half with 10 combined points from Slaughter and senior Ashley Clay to take a 48-47 lead at the 14:32 mark. Jacksonville State continued its onslaught with 12-3 run to snap a 48-all tie in a span of 2:15 to take its biggest lead of the game at 60-51 with 11 minutes left. Sophomore forward Rachel Blunt (Dexter, Mo./Dexter) and Whitney later ignited a comeback by scoring 18 points during Southeast's 27-14 scoring drive to claim a 78-74 advantage with four minutes remaining. A pair of Slaughter free throws closed the Gamecocks' deficit to 82-80 with two minutes left, but the Redhawks closed the game by going 5-of-8 from the free throw line along with a Blunt jumper as part of an 8-3 run that ended the game.

In addition to Whitney's big game, Blunt contributed 14 points and five caroms for Southeast, while senior center Lachelle Lyles (Chicago, Ill./Shelton State CC) added 16 rebounds and 12 points. Lyles also posted a career-best 10-of-14 from the charity stripe. Lovelady finished the game with 11 points and a career high seven assists for the Redhawks.

McKinney posted a team-best 22 points, four rebounds and three assists to lead Jacksonville State, while Slaughter added 17 points and three assists. Freshman Jolie Efezokhae also reached double figures for the Gamecocks with 12 points.

Southeast concludes its homestand at the Show Me Center with an OVC showdown against conference preseason favorite Samford on Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 5 p.m.