Nov. 24, 2005

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (Thursday, November 24, 2005) The Redhawks host the 2nd Annual Southeast Missouri State Hospital HealthPoint Thanksgiving Classic this weekend at the Show Me Center. They kick-off the Classic with a game against the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee on Friday, November 25. They then face Henderson State on Saturday, November 26. Both games will tip-off at 7:00 p.m.

The game can be heard live on ESPN 1220 AM and is web-streamed live at www.gosoutheast.com.

The Redhawks head into the match-up with a record of 1-1 after defeating D-II foe Arkansas-Monticello on Tuesday, 83-48. The win extended the Redhawks current home winning streak to 11 games dating back to last season.

The Redhawks had two players in double figures with OVC Preseason Player of the Year Tatiana Conceicao leading the way with a game-high 17 points on 6-10 shooting. Conceicao also pulled down a co team-high seven rebounds. Simone Jackson recorded her second-straight double-digit scoring game of the young season as she pitched in 13 points. Wanika Owsley recorded a career-high nine assists as she added nine points and seven rebounds.

The bench was key in the Redhawks second-half run against the Cottom Bloomers as Tiffanne Ryan scored seven points and freshman Tarina Nixon added six points and six rebounds. Fellow freshman Chytearra Kintchen provided a defensive spark as she swiped three passes and scored five points.

The win was the Redhawks fourth-straight home-opener win under Head Coach B.J. Smith as the Redhawks improved to 12-1 against non-conference opponents in the Show Me Center.

Last season the Redhawks won the Southeast Missouri State Hospital HealthPoint Thanksgiving Classic as they defeated Texas Southern, 90-60 before defeating Illinois-Chicago, 85-82 in an overtime thriller in the Championship game.

Conceicao was named Most Valuable Player of the Classic as she averaged 18 points and eight rebounds in the two games. In the championship game Conceicao recorded her first career double-double with 26 points and 10 rebounds.

Natalie Purcell scored a game-high 13 points in the Texas Southern game and Katrisha Dunn and Jackson each added 12 points.

The two games are the middle games of the Redhawks four-game homestand as they host regional rival Southern Illinois University-Carbondale on Tuesday, November 29.

SCOUTING THE PANTHERS

The Panthers will face the Redhawks in the first game of a home-and-home series set for this season. The redhawks will travel to Milwaukee on Dec. 2 for the season series finale. The Panthers head into the contest with a record of 1-2.

On Sunday they dropped a 82-42 road decision to Big Ten foe Iowa. Milwaukee committed 31 turnovers and shot just under 16 percent in the second half as the Hawkeyes pulled away. The Panthers were held scoreless for almost nine minutes in the second half in falling to the Hawkeyes. Freshman Traci Edwards posted a double-double with a team-high 11 points and game-high 11 rebounds. Freshman Emily Markert scored eight points and sophomore Meredith Onson added seven for UWM.

The Freshmen duo of Edwards and Turquoise McCain lead the Panthers in scoring. Edwards averages 10.7 points and 7.3 rebounds to lead the Panthers in both categories. McCain ranks second with 8.0 ppg. Aubrey Hampton leads the team with 2.0 assists per game.

Preseason All-Horizon selections Molly O'Brien and Nichole Drummond have yet to get on track for the Panthers and join Hampton as three of the returning starters from last years team. The Panthers welcome seven newcomers while returning 12 letterwinners.

SCOUTING THE LADY REDDIES

The Lady Reddies are one of the top D-II teams in the country as they made it to the Elite 8 of the D-II tournament. They head into the contest against the Redhawks as the 5th-ranked team in D-II despite only returning one starter and two letterwinners from last season's squad.

The Lady Reddies are 3-0 after dominating their early competition averaging 88.7 ppg and defeating their opponents by an average of 33 points per game. At the Best Western/First State Bank Classic they defeated Lane College, 107-61 before closing the Classic with a 93-56 win over Barry.

The Lady Reddies have three players averaging double-figures with Shondra Bush leading the team with 20.3 ppg, 7.0 rpg and 5.7 apg. Keisha Blackwell scores 14.0 ppg and 4.7 apg. Rayna Hare averages 15.0 ppg off the bench.

Former Redhawk Jennifer Hitchman is averaging 6.0 ppg for the Lady Reddies.

SERIES HISTORY

Redhawks have faced the Panthers six times, with the Panthers winners of four-straight. Southeast swept a home and home in the 1991-92 season, before the Panthers' current streak. In their last meeting, the Panthers won 71-56 at the Show Me Center.

Against Henderson State the Redhawks have won the only contest between the two schools. In Head Coach B.J. Smith's Southeast debut he recorded a 85-55 victory on Nov. 22, 2002. Current Redhawk Tiffanne Ryan scored seven points on 3-3 shooting in six minutes of action in her collegiate debut.