Feb. 13, 2007

Southeast-EIU2 Game Notes
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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -

TIP-OFF: Southeast Missouri State women's basketball heads Central Illinois for a Valentine's Day Ohio Valley Conference contest against Eastern Illinois at Lantz Arena in Charleston. The game's tip-off is scheduled for 7:35 p.m. The Redhawks have posted a mark of 4-5 in road games, while the Panthers are 6-5 at home this season with a 4-4 record in conference play.

SCOUTING THE REDHAWKS: Southeast enters the week sporting a season ledger of 17-7 that includes a 12-4 mark versus OVC competition. Last week, the Redhawks produced a pair of wins at the Show Me Center over Morehead State (84-70) and Eastern Kentucky (73-72). Junior forward/center Missy Whitney's 13.8 points per game ranks her first on the team, while senior center Lachelle Lyles holds the team's rebounding lead with a 16.8 per game average. Three more Redhawks are also averaging double figures in scoring: sophomore guard Sonya Daugherty (12.9 ppg), junior guard Ashley Lovelady (10.8 ppg) and sophomore guard Tarina Nixon (10.7 ppg).

SCOUTING THE PANTHERS: Eastern Illinois brings a 9-16 record, including a 6-10 OVC ledger, into Wednesday night's contest against the Redhawks. The Panthers last week captured a 79-61 road win at Austin Peay before defeating Tennessee-Martin at Lantz by a score of 52-44 in a televised game on ESPNU. Freshman guard Jessica Huffman currently leads EIU in scoring (17.7 ppg), assists (3.7 apg) and steals (2.0 spg). Sophomore center Rachel Galligan ranks second on the team in scoring at 17.5 ppg, while leading the team in rebounds (8.2 rpg) and pacing the conference in blocked shots (1.6 bpg). The Panthers are coached by Brady Sallee, who is currently in his third season at EIU, and has produced a career record of 29-52.

SERIES HISTORY: Southeast holds a 17-8 lifetime advantage in the series with Eastern Illinois that includes winning eight of the last nine meetings. Last season, the Panthers upset the Redhawks at Lantz, 70-61, for their first home win in the series since 1997-98, a year after joining the OVC. Southeast has tallied a record of 6-3 in Charleston and was victorious in the teams' first showdown on Jan. 4 at the Show Me Center by a 77-60 winning margin.

WHITNEY WINS TWO OVC WEEKLY AWARDS: Junior Missy Whitney became the first Southeast player to capture the Ohio Valley Conference Player and Newcomer of the Week awards in the same week after winning both honors on Monday. The 6-2 native of Charleston, Mo., averaged 23 points and 7.5 rebounds last week in helping the Redhawks defeat Morehead State and Eastern Kentucky at home. Whitney posted 28 points and 10 rebounds against the Eagles, then added 18 points, five boards and a career high-tying three blocks versus the Lady Colonels in addition to equaling another career high with three blocks.

FOUR-GONE CONCLUSION: The Redhawks produced the fewest turnovers in a game since the 2004-05 season last Thursday at home against Morehead State by giving up the ball only four times. Southeast eclipsed its previous season-low of 10 turnovers that was set in consecutive games against Austin Peay (1/29) and Tennessee-Martin (2/3).

SOUTHEAST'S DOUBLE VISION: Junior Missy Whitney and senior Lachelle Lyles are tied for the team lead in double-double games with seven apiece. Whitney has produced such efforts in three of the last four games, including a 28-point, 10-rebound performance last week against Morehead State. Lyles recorded consecutive double-doubles during last week's homestand against the Eagles (10 points, 12 rebounds) and Eastern Kentucky (13 points, 16 rebounds). Senior Joiceline Thesing has recorded one double-double on the year.

UP NEXT: Southeast welcomes Tennessee-Martin to the Show Me Center on Saturday, Feb. 17 for its final OVC regular-season home contest of the year with start time of 5 p.m. Seniors Lachelle Lyles and Joiceline Thesing will be honored in a Senior Day ceremony as well.