Nov. 9, 2006

Tulsa Notes
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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -

TONIGHT'S GAME: Southeast Missouri State women's basketball kicks off the 2006-07 season on Saturday with a 7 p.m. road game against Tulsa in the Donald W. Reynolds Center. The Redhawks are coming off an 87-61 win over Lambuth on Nov. 3 in their only exhibition contest as six players scored in double figures.

SCOUTING THE REDHAWKS: Southeast welcomes back three letterwinners, including one starter, from last season's 22-9 squad that captured its first-ever Ohio Valley Conference championship and NCAA Tournament berth. Sophomore guard Tarina Nixon is the team's leading returning scorer as she averaged 5.6 points per game last year, while senior center Lachelle Lyles returns for her final season after producing a 6.4 rebound-per-game average in her first season in a Redhawks uniform. Juniors Ashley Lovelady and Missy Whitney are two of five newcomers looking to make an impact in their first season at Southeast.

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN HURRICANE: Tulsa welcomes Southeast for its season-opening game at the Reynolds Center. The Golden Hurricane, who are receiving votes in the first Associated Press poll this week, posted a pair of a 69-60 win over the Oklahoma Flyers and a 59-32 win over Cameron in exhibition play. Tulsa lost six letterwinners and three starters from last season's 26-6 team that captured its first Conference USA championship and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Among the returnees is senior forward Jillian Robbins, who earned C-USA Player of the Year honors and was named an honorable mention All-American. Robbins averaged 17.9 points and 12.8 rebounds per game last season for the Golden Hurricane. Charlene Thomas-Swinson heads into her second season as Tulsa's head coach and holds a 26-6 career record.

SERIES HISTORY: Southeast has a 2-1 lead in the all-time series with Tulsa. The Redhawks captured an 80-63 win in the team's last meeting at the Show Me Center during the 1998-99 season.

SMITH PLACED ON LEAVE OF ABSENCE, ISHEE NAMED ACTING HEAD COACH: Southeast Missouri State athletic director Don Kaverman announced that fifth-year head coach B.J. Smith has been placed on an indefinite leave of absence from the team on Nov. 9. Assistant Coach John Ishee, in his first season with the Redhawks, will serve as the acting head coach beginning with tonight's game against Tulsa. Ishee has compiled a career coaching record of 34-24 at Life University (Ga.) and the University of New Mexico-Highlands.

FACING THE BEST: The Redhawks will take on four teams that advanced to the second round or beyond in postseason play in 2005-06, including tonight's game at defending Conference USA champion Tulsa. The Redhawks will host Florida State from the ACC on Friday, Nov. 17 with a start time of 7:30 p.m.. Other teams include 2005 National Champion Baylor (NCAA - 2nd Round) and OVC rival Tennessee Tech (WNIT - 2nd Round). In past years, Southeast has taken on different teams from some of the Big 12, Pac-10 and Mountain West Conferences.

NEW FACES: The Redhawks bolstered their roster for the 2006-07 by adding five newcomers, including a pair of junior college transfers in Ashley Lovelady and Missy Whitney, who competed against each other in the tough NJCAA Region 16 last season. Other newcomers include junior Mathilde Dufour and freshmen Crystal Pinnock and Mikal Bencomo.

REDHAWKS PICKED FIFTH IN OVC PRESEASON POLL: Southeast was been picked to finish fifth in the Ohio Valley Conference's preseason poll, which compiled by the conference's head coaches and sports information directors and released on Oct. 11. Last season, the Redhawks were selected second in the annual poll and captured the conference regular-season and tournament titles. Samford was picked as the favorite to win this season's OVC crown with 189 points.

UP NEXT: The Redhawks open a three-game homestand at the Show Me Center on Tuesday, Nov. 14 against Central Arkansas, a newcomer to NCAA Division I, with the tip-off scheduled for 7:30 p.m.