Feb. 23, 2005

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (Wednesday, February 23, 2005) Southeast split a pair of road contests this past weekend losing to Eastern Kentucky, 66-62 in a clash of first-place teams. The loss snapped the Redhawks 10-game winning streak. The Redhawks bounced back with a convincing 82-70 victory over Morehead State.

Southeast (18-7, 12-2) closes the 2005 regular season with two home games this week. In doing so they look to extend their 14-game home winning streak against OVC opponents.

Southeast hosts Murray State (9-16, 5-9 OVC) on Thursday in the Show Me Center before closing the season against Tennessee-Martin on Saturday. Tip-off for both games is 5:00 p.m. The game can be heard live on C-106 FM or on www.gosoutheast.com.

Southeast holds the all-time advantage against the Lady Racers at 20-15. Southeast has won two-straight against the Lady Racers and seven of their last eight, including five-straight at home. Southeast won their earlier meeting this season, 60-40 in Murray, Kentucky.

Murray State is fighting for an OVC Championship Tournament berth as they currently sit in the eighth and final spot. They have lost two-straight heading into their match-up with Southeast.

SCOUTING THE LADY RACERS

Murray State is fighting for their postseason lives as they currently sit in the eighth and final position for a berth to the OVC Championship Tournament. They have a record of 9-16 and 5-9 in the OVC. The Lady Racers have dropped two-straight, including a 62-57 loss to upstart Tennessee State on Saturday.

Ashley Hayes recorded a double-double, leading the team with 16 points and 10 rebounds. The Lady Racers were done in by poor free throw shooting, making only 7-18 (39-percent).

Preseason All-OVC selection Rebecca Remington leads the Lady Racers in scoring at 14.4 ppg and rebounding at 5.4 rpg. Hayes chips in with a 11.0 ppg.

In their first meeting of the season the Redhawks used a 14-0 run in the final six minutes to neat the Lady Racers, 60-40 on the road. Tatiana Conceicao recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds.

WE MUST PROTECT THIS HOUSE

It's no secret that in order to be successful as an athletic team that you must win at home. Protecting and winning on your home court is a must in any sport. If you can't do that success will be very hard to come by.

Southeast has the market cornered in home court advantage, especially under the helm of B.J. Smith. Since Smith has taken over, Southeast has gone 31-4 at the Show Me Center. Last season the team went 11-1 at home. This season they are 11-1.

The Southeast offense has come alive at home as well. Last season Southeast averaged 80 points per game and held opponents to 63 points at the Show Me Center. This season they are averaging an amazing 80.6 ppg and allowing only 56.2 ppg.

Since the 2001 season Southeast is 16-2 against non-conference opponents. Under Coach Smith Southeast is 11-1 at the Show Me Center vs. non-conference foes.

They have won 14-straight vs OVC opponents dating back to last season at the Show Me Center.

Since the opening of the Show Me Center (1987), Southeast is 182-65 (.737) at home.

WELCOME TO THE OVC

Since B.J. Smith took over at Southeast a little over three seasons ago he has used his Junior College roots and recruiting to bring in players that have stepped-up to D-I basketball play with the simpliest of ease. Proof lies in the weekly Ohio Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week award.

Since the creation of the weekly award during the 2002-03 season, coincidentally Coach Smith's first season, Southeast has won the award an amazing 26 out of the possible 39 weeks. In 2002-03 Southeast garnered 8 out of 12 awards. Last season Southeast won 9 out of 14 awards.

This season Southeast won the first seven awards with Tatiana Conceicao earning four and Natalie Purcell and Simone Jackson each winning one apiece.

Dating back to last season Southeast had won 12-straight Newcomer of the Week awards.

The Redhawks have won 10 awards this season with Conceicao winning eight alone. Southeast has put themselves in excellent position to be honored with their third straight Newcomer of the Year award as well. In 2002-03 Kenja White was awarded the honor and last season Sami Jo Cotton took the honor.

SERVING TREYS

Last season Southeast finished 18th nationally in three-point field goals per game with and average of 7.0 per game and in the process set a new record for total three-pointers made with 202. This season Southeast ranks 7h nationally with an average of 7.6 three-pointers made per game.

They have made 190 three's so far this season and are on pace to break the school record of three's made in a season set by last year's team.

Currently they rank amongst the nation's best in consecutive three-pointers made in a game. They have made at least one three-pointer in 208-straight games dating back to the 1997-98 season. They haven't been held scoreless from behind the arc since Jan. 14, 1998 vs. Tennessee State.

SHE'S A BALLER...BABY

It's hard to believe that soccer (or futbol) is the national sport of Brazil, especially if you've seen how junior Tatiana Conceicao has dominated the game of basketball this season. She's among the nation's leaders in both scoring (17.7 ppg) and steals (2.6). Since her 26-points debut vs Oklahoma she's been on a tear.

She has scored in double-figures in all but two games this season. She has topped the 20-point plateau in eleven of her games including six of her last 12 games.

Currently 2nd in scoring and steals in the OVC, she has been on fire since the start of conference play. She is averaging 17.4 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 2.6 steals per game and shooting 56-percent from the field.

BLOCK PARTY

Chandra Brown has made her presence felt on the defensive end of the court. Brown is currently second in the OVC in blocked shots with 41 for an average of 1.7 per game. In OVC play she has upped that number to over 2 blocked shots per game.

She currently ranks seventh on the school's all-time career list with 67 career blocked shots. Passing former Southeast great Jamie Koester with four blocks vs Tennessee State.

Pam Iversen is ahead of Brown with 69 career blocks.