March 2, 2007

2006-07 Ohio Valley Conference Postseason Honors and Awards
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Southeast Missouri State women's basketball players Lachelle Lyles (Chicago, Ill./Shelton State CC) and Missy Whitney (Charleston, Mo./Three Rivers CC) captured All-Ohio Valley Conference honors on Thursday night, the conference announced in an awards banquet at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville. Lyles was named First Team All-OVC, while Whitney claimed All-OVC Second Team and All-Newcomer honors. This marks the first time since 2003 that Southeast had at least two of its players claim All-OVC honors in the same season.

John Ishee was selected as the Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year after leading Southeast to a 22-7 record and its second straight OVC regular-season title

In addition, acting head coach John Ishee was named the conference's Coach of the Year after guiding the Redhawks to their second consecutive OVC regular-season championship with a school record-tying 16-4 record this season with an overall mark of 22-7. Prior to the season, Southeast was picked to finish fifth in the preseason conference poll. Ishee becomes the second Southeast head coach in program history to win the award, joining Ed Arnzen who captured the honor during the 1998-99 season.

Lyles has led Southeast in rebounding all year with an average of 17.4 boards per contest, which is tops in the OVC and NCAA Division I. The 6-2 center has posted nine double-doubles on the year and set numerous career bests on the court. She has also set the Southeast and OVC single-season rebounding records with 486 total caroms, while her career-best 32 boards Dec. 9 at Tennessee State ranks as the fourth-best individual effort in D-I history.

Junior transfer Missy Whitney garnered All-OVC Second Team and All-Newcomer accolades on Thursday

Whitney has made an immediate impact for the Redhawks since transferring from Three Rivers CC by producing 13.1 ppg, 8.0 rpg and 1.3 blocks per game, while leading the team with a of .431 field-goal percentage. She notched a career-high 36 points against Jacksonville State in December and equaled a school record with six blocks at Eastern Illinois nearly three weeks ago. Whitney ranks second in the OVC for defensive rebounds (176 - 4.7 dprg) and third in blocked shots (37 - bpg).

Murray State senior forward Joi Scott was named the OVC Player of the Year, while Eastern Illinois guard Jessica Hufman claimed the conference's Freshman of the Year award.

The Redhawks face Samford today in a semifinal contest at the 2007 O'Reilly OVC Tournament, held at the Gaylord Entertainment Center with a start time of 12 noon.