Sept. 20, 2006

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri State women's basketball head coach B.J. Smith has announced the recent hiring of Jenni Lingor as an assistant coach this afternoon, which completes the 2006-07 Redhawks coaching staff.

"I'm really pleased with the hiring of Jenni because she has brought a winning tradition at every level that she has competed in," said Smith. "We feel that she is a great addition to our coaching staff."

Lingor, a native of Tahlequah, Okla., was a four-year starter (2001-05) at Missouri State, were she led the Bears to a pair of Missouri Valley Conference regular-season and tournament titles and a WNIT Championship in 2005. She was a two-time MVC Player of the Year, the 2002 MVC Freshman of the Year, a four-time all-conference honoree and the MVP of the 2005 WNIT Tournament. She finished her collegiate career ranked in the top 10 among the school's career leaders in points, rebounds, assists and steals.

Lingor was selected in the third round (33rd overall) of the 2005 WNBA Draft by the Detroit Shock before playing a season of professional basketball in Sweden. She averaged 18.5 points, six rebounds and six assists while playing for Sundsvall and led the team to a fourth-place finish in their first year in the Damligan League, Sweden's premier division.

It's just a good opportunity to work with coaches that have so much experience in recruiting and game-type situations. All three of the other coaches have such a great passion for basketball." Lingor said. "It's a great opportunity for me to step in and learn how to take a program from almost nothing and bring it to the top of the league."