Nov. 10, 2007

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri State women's basketball opens the 2007-08 campaign tonight at the Show Me Center with a non-conference contest against Tulsa starting at 7:30 p.m. The Redhawks are opening the season at home for the first time since the 2002-03 season.

Southeast heads into tonight's showdown after posting a 63-41 exhibition victory over Auburn-Montgomery on Nov. 1 at the Show Me Center. The Redhawks welcome back eight letterwinners, including four starters, from last season's 24-8 team and were picked to finish first in last month's OVC Preseason Poll. Senior forward/center Missy Whitney (Charleston, Mo./Three Rivers CC) tallied 11 points and five rebounds to lead Southeast against AUM, while junior guard/forward Sonya Daugherty (St. Louis, Mo./Hancock) contributed 10 points.

Tulsa produced a 2-0 exhibition record which included a 78-49 win over Cameron on Nov. 6. Junior center Chanel Johnson averaged 19 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks a contest during the exhibition slate and sophomore forward/center Larissa Williams averaged 12 points and nine boards a game. The Golden Hurricane return only three letterwinners from last season with Williams being the lone returning starter.

The series is currently tied at two games apiece with each team winning twice on their respective home floors. Last season, Tulsa posted a 67-54 win over the Redhawks in both teams' season opener at the Donald W. Reynolds Center.

Southeast returns to action on Tuesday, Nov. 13 when it battles NCAA Division II Henderson State at the Show Me Center with a start time of 7:30 p.m.