July 25, 2008

2008-2009 Redhawks Women's Basketball Schedule

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO. – (Friday, July 25, 2008) – The Redhawks women’s basketball team has released its schedule for the upcoming 2008-2009 season. The schedule is highlighted by 15 home games at the Show Me Center and road games at Florida State, Southern Mississippi and Missouri as well as trip to New Orleans, Louisiana to play in the Tulane Double Tree Classic hosted by Tulane University. Four of the team’s the Redhawks will face participated in postseason play.

“Overall the schedule is one of the toughest schedules the program has played in quite some time,” said Head Coach John Ishee. “Every game we play this season, especially our non-conference slate, will be challenging. But those games will prepare us for Ohio Valley Conference play. The depth and the number of quality opponents this season will not only challenge our players but the coaching staff as well.”

For the third-straight season the Redhawks will start preparation for the season with one home exhibition game. On November 8th the Redhawks host Maryville University from nearby St. Louis. The Redhawks then start the season with seven of their first eight games at the friendly confines of the Show Me Center where the Redhawks are 27-5 since Coach Ishee took over the team in 2006.

“I like our home schedule,” said Coach Ishee. “Once again we bring in some quality opponents for our fans to see us play against. I hope there are just excited as I am about us bringing these quality teams into the Show Me Center.”

On November 14th the Redhawks host in-state rival Missouri State in their season opener. The Redhawks and Bears resume their rivalry after a three year hiatus. The last time the Redhawks faced the Bears was the 2004-05 season with the Bears winning 73-65 at the Show Me Center. The Bears went 11-19 and finished third in the Missouri Valley last season but return 2nd Team All-MVC and MVC Newcomer of the Year Maggie Dwyer. Dwyer, who played at Michigan State prior to last season, led the Bears in scoring at 13.6 points per game and recorded 5.2 rebounds per game. She is joined by MVC All-Freshman selection Marisha Brown. The Bears lead the all-time series against the Redhawks 9-1 with the Redhawks lone win coming during the 1981-82 season. The Bears have won the last three meetings.

“Missouri State has a great tradition of basketball and I expect nothing but a tough game from them,” said Coach Ishee. “This game will be a huge game because it’s our home opener and against an in-state rival.”

The Redhawks continue with their home stand with games against Central Arkansas and Arkansas-Little Rock. Arkansas-Little Rock, the Sun Belt regular season champions, went 23-9 last season and played in the Women’s National Invitational Tournament (WNIT).

Two seasons ago the Redhawks defeated Central Arkansas, 64-60 to even the all-time series one game apiece. The series against Arkansas-Little Rock stands at 1-1 with the last game between the state rivals occurring during the 2000-2001 season, a 76-55 home loss by the Redhawks.

The Redhawks embark on their first road trip of the season when they head to Tallahassee, Florida to face ACC school Florida State. The Seminoles are coming off a 19-14 season that saw them advance to their fourth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance where they upset 25th-ranked Ohio State in the first round before falling to 13th-ranked Oklahoma State in the second round. The Seminoles return their top three scorers including Honorable Mention All-ACC selection Tanae Davis-Cain who led the team in scoring at 15.0 ppg and also recorded 4.6 rebounds per game. Mara Freshour chipped in 12.7 ppg as the team’s top three-point threat and Jacinta Monroe averaged 10.2 ppg and a team-high 6.2 rebounds per game and shot .592 percent from the field. Monroe ranked 24th nationally in blocks with 2.4 per game.

The Redhawks have faced the Seminoles once in the program history. On November 17, 2006 the Redhawks loss a 64-50 home game against the Seminoles. Davis-Cain recorded a game-high 21 points on 8-11 shooting. Tarina Nixon scored 10 points for the Redhawks who trailed 28-27 at halftime.

“This will be a tough road trip for us,” said Coach Ishee. “Their frontline is huge and they have some good outside shooters. It will be an early test for our post players especially our new players.”

The Redhawks then return to the Show Me Center to face another opponent from the Missouri Valley Conference in Indiana State. The Sycamores went 14-15 and finished fourth in the MVC. The Redhawks look to win their first game against the Sycamores as they lead the all-time series 3-0 with the last match-up occurring during the 2002-03 season, an 82-71 loss at the Show Me Center.

The Indiana State game is the first of four-straight home games for the Redhawks which also includes the team’s OVC opener against Austin Peay on December 4th followed by a visit by one of the preseason OVC favorites in Tennessee State on December 6th. The Redhawks look to avenge one of their three home losses last season against the Tigers who won 61-49 in both team’s OVC opener.

The Redhawks conclude the home stand by hosting Bethel College before heading south. The first stop is a “homecoming trip” for Coach Ishee as the Redhawks face Southern Mississippi on December 13th in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Coach Ishee started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater for the Southern Miss men’s team before becoming an assistant for the women’s team from 1991-1994.

Southern Miss went 21-14 and finished fifth in Conference USA last season. The Golden Eagles advanced to the Sweet 16 of the WNIT and return all but one letterwinner including their top four scorers. Pauline Love averaged a double-double with team –highs of 16.2 ppg and 10.3 rpg which ranked nationally. Kendra Reed is the team’s second leading scorer and top three-point shooter at 11.9 ppg and a .435 percent three-point average.

This will be the first meeting of the two teams.

“I’m very excited about the Southern Miss game,” said Coach Ishee. “I spent five years there as a coach. My parents live 28 miles away and they will be able to come up and see me coach and see my players. It’s a homecoming of sorts for me and I hope to leave there with a win.”

The Redhawks will continue further south to the “Big Easy” to participate in the Tulane Double Tree Classic hosted by Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana from Dec. 20th through the 21st. The Redhawks will face Big East school Providence (12-17, 2-14 Big East) and depending on the outcome of that game and other games will either face Tulane or Alabama State.

The Redhawks have one more road game before heading into the meat of the OVC schedule as they travel to Columbia, Missouri to face another in-state rival in Missouri on December 29th. The Tigers had a down season last year as they finished 10-21 and last in the Big 12 with a 2-14 conference record. However they return all five starters including leading scorer Alyssa Hollins who averaged 16.6 ppg which was fifth in the Big 12. Jessra Johnson averaged 13.5 ppg and led the team with 7.7 rpg.

The Redhawks are 1-12 against Mizzou with the last game being played on December 1st, 2001 an 80-62 loss at the Show Me Center. During the 1998-99 season the Redhawks defeated the Tigers 90-71 at home for their lone win in the series.

“I know our girls are excited about this game,” said Coach Ishee. “Our players from Missouri want the chance to prove that our program is the best in the state. A lot of our girls have played with and against the players at Mizzou during high school so this is a bragging rights game for them.”

For the first time in program history the Redhawks will have faced three teams from three of the major women’s basketball conferences (ACC, Big 12, Big East) during the regular season.

“From a RPI (Ratings Percentage Index) standpoint the non-conference schedule will help us,” said Coach Ishee, “Outside of the three major conferences in the Big East, Big 12 and ACC the two games against Missouri Valley teams, the game against Arkansas-Little Rock of the Sun Belt and the games against Conference USA team Southern Miss and possibly Tulane will be huge. But of course it doesn’t mean that much unless we win those games, which I think we can.”

The Redhawks start the New Year still on the road as they face Tennessee Tech on January 3rd to start the remainder of the OVC schedule. Some of the premier home games during the OVC schedule include the Redhawks hosting preseason OVC favorites Eastern Illinois (January 10th) and Murray State (February 19th) as the Redhawks look to win their second-straight OVC regular season crown and their second NCAA Tournament berth in three seasons.

On February 4th the Redhawks host non-conference opponent Harris-Stowe. Harris Stowe advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NAIA Tournament last season and is considered a dangerous team despite playing in a smaller division. Harris Stowe will be fourth Missouri state school the Redhawks will face including the exhibition game against Maryville University.

The OVC Tournament will start on March 3rd and will continue with the semifinals and finals in Nashville, Tennessee on March 6-7.

The Redhawks are expected to be picked near the top of the league standings as they return seven letterwinners including three starters for a team that finished 23-9 and advanced to postseason play for the second-straight year with their very first WNIT berth in 2008. Second Team All-OVC selection Tarina Nixon averaged 9.5 ppg and led the team in assists. Sonya Daugherty is the team’s leading scorer among the returnees as she finished second on the team last season with 12.0 ppg. Rachel Blunt returns as a starter after averaging 7.8 ppg.

“We lost two real good players in Missy Whitney and Ashley Lovelady,” said Coach Ishee. “But I think with the players we return from last season and the recruits we have brought in we have addressed those losses and will continue being successful and contend with Eastern Illinois, Tennessee State and Murray State for the OVC title this upcoming season.”

This upcoming season will also see a change in tip-off time for the women’s conference home games. With the exception of the Murray State game on February 19th the start times will be 5:30 p.m. central followed by the men’s basketball game thirty minutes after the conclusion of the women’s game.

For ticket information for the 2008-09 season please call (573) 651-2113