Daugherty Leads Five Players in Double Figures as Redhawks Post 83-71 Win at Jacksonville State :: Junior guard tallied a game-high 22 points and seven rebounds for Southeast

Dec. 20, 2007

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Junior guard Sonya Daugherty (St. Louis, Mo./Hancock) recorded a game-high 22 points to lead five players in double figures as Southeast Missouri State women's basketball defeated host Jacksonville State by a score of 83-71 tonight in a Ohio Valley Conference showdown at Pete Mathews Coliseum. The Redhawks improve to 7-5 (3-1) on the year while the Gamecocks' season record fell to 5-6 (2-2).

Southeast opened the game with a 10-2 run in the first five minutes of the game that culminated with a three-pointer from junior guard Tarina Nixon (Gilbert, Ariz./Highland) at the 15:08 mark. JSU responded by scoring 10 of the next 17 points within a four and a half minute stretch that sliced its deficit to 17-12 with 11:16 remaining in the stanza, but the Redhawks later used a 19-2 scoring drive over seven minutes to increase their leading margin to 36-14 with 4:14 left in the half as Daugherty scored 10 points during the decisive run. The Gamecocks scored five of the final nine points as the visitors posted a 40-22 lead entering the half.

A 13-7 run by JSU trimmed its deficit to 12 points (47-35) in the second half's opening five minutes with four points coming from freshman Charlease Williams, but a Nixon trey later hiked the leading margin back to 50-35 at the 14:21 mark. The home team responded by producing 31 of the next 56 points over a stretch of 13 minutes to pull within 75-66 with 1:05 left in the contest. Senior guard Ashley Lovelady (Elkhart, Ind./Moberly Area CC) came through in the clutch for the Redhawks as she personally outscored JSU, 8-5, in the final 55 seconds with six points coming from the charity stripe.

Daugherty added seven rebounds, six assists and four steals for Southeast, while Nixon recorded 17 points with five boards, five assists and four steals on the night. Lovelady contributed 16 points, including 8-of-8 from the line, senior center Missy Whitney (Charleston, Mo./Three Rivers CC) posted 12 points and junior forward Rachel Blunt (Dexter, Mo./Dexter) scored 11 points.

Sophomores Jolie Efezokhae and Eren McMichael led Jacksonville State with 12 points apiece, while freshman Cierra Duhart added eight points and a game-high eight rebounds. Williams and sophomore Kelsey Johnikin also finished with eight points.

The Redhawks will be back in action on Dec. 29 at the Show Me Center with a non-conference, afternoon matinee against Buffalo with a start time of 12 Noon.