Cape Girardeau, Mo. (May 2, 2003)- Southeast Missouri State women's basketball coach B.J. Smith has announced the signing of Chandra Brown, a 6-3 center from Southeastern Illinois College.

Brown was a second team All-America selection this past season for the Lady Falcons under coach Greg Franklin. She was also named All-Region while leading her team to the regional finals before losing to national No. 3 Wabash Valley.

Brown averaged 22 points and 12 rebounds while shooting 60 percent from the field and over 80 percent from the free-throw line. She was also being recruited by such programs as Oklahoma State, Kansas State, Alabama, Louisville, Mississippi, Kentucky, West Virginia, Marquette, and Ball State.

Brown is a very athletic post player that will most likely play the 4 or 5 spot for the Otahks, who are coming off their best finish as a Division I program after finishing the regular season 19-11 and 11-5 in OVC play placing second in the league. They made it to the program's first-ever OVC Tournament final.

Franklin, a former player at Austin Peay, said he knows the OVC and Brown should be able to step in and be an impact player in the league right away.

"I know the conference, and Chandra should be able to step in and be one of the top two or three players in the league," said Brown's former coach Greg Franklin. "She's the type of player that leads by example. She has the ability to lift the team to the level that she plays at and the level needed to be successful at Southeast Missouri."

Smith is very excited about getting Brown and will look forward to her aggressive style of play for the Otahks next season.

"She is a very athletic post player," Smith said. "She is a very versatile player that excels both offensively and defensively. We expect her to be an impact player and help us make the step to the next level and competing with the bigger programs."

Brown is the second signing of the spring period for Smith as he signed Brandi Russia earlier last week. In the early period last November, Smith signed three other players.

Jessica Aebi, a point guard from Enid (Okla.) H.S. , along with Sami Jo Cotton a 5'7 shooting guard from Miami, Okla. and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, as well as Ameli da Silva, a 6-3 center out of Fort Smith Northside High School all signed earlier with the Otahkians.

Smith expects one other singing later this week.