Brentwood, Tenn. (December 10, 2002) - Southeast Missouri State junior guard Sarah Costello has been named the Ohio Valley Conference's Newcomer of the Week for the week of December 10, as announced by the league office today in Brentwood.

Costello, a 5'4 junior from Sydney, Australia, shot 52 percent from the field and turned in two 13-point shooting performances this past week against Lipscomb and Samford. She was just two steals shy of a triple-double against Lipscomb as she had 13 points, 11 assists and eight steals. She had four steals and three assists in the win over Samford.

Costello currently ranks second in the OVC in steals with 3.5 per game and 8th in assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.00. She averaged seven assists on the week while just committing an average of three turnovers per game.

Costello is the third Otahkian in a row to win the award this year. She joins junior forwards Carina Souza and Yashika Sidbury as the two other winners. Southeast, which boasts the leagues highest number of newcomers, has won each time this season.

Southeast will be off this week for finals, but will be in action this next Monday as they play host to the Mighty Oaks of Oakland City. Game time is slated for 7 p.m. at the Show Me Center.