Feb. 21, 2007

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO. - The Southeast Missouri State Redhawks host the defending Midwest Independent Conference champion Texas Woman's University in Houck Fieldhouse on Saturday, February 24 at 7:00 p.m. for the Outback Steakhouse Dual Meet.

Southeast (10-3, 5-0 MIC) is currently 31st in the nation and is working towards gaining their second straight berth into the NCAA South Central Regionals.

The young Redhawks squad will have to step up to fill in for team-leader Sandra Blake (Tri-Cities, Wash./Mid Columbia) who is listed as questionable due to an injury she suffered during practice last week. Head coach Tom Farden feels very confident that the team is capable of moving forward despite the absence of Blake.

The gymnastics team boasts some very talented freshmen that have really kept this team in the hunt for a regional berth. Rikara Turner (Hastings, Minn./Tri City Twisters) has led the way for the freshman as she currently leads the conference and is ranked 41st nationally on the all-around. Tuner has also won the MIC Gymnast of the Week Award this season. Bryanna Wong (Parkville, Mo./Edge Gymnastics) and Jena Nguyen (Sioux Falls, S.D./All-American) have also brought some excellence to the team. Wong is coming off her first completion of the all-around in which she led the Redhawks and placed second overall. Nguyen, who mainly competes on vault, beam and floor, has been very consistent this season allowing the majority of her scores to be used in the final total. Against BYU last week, Nguyen led the Redhawks on the beam and bars.

Texas Woman's University (7-6) will be looking for a repeat upset against the Redhawks, which enabled them to take home the MIC Championship last season. The Pioneers went on that season to also win the USAG National Championship.

The Pioneers are led by junior Nicole Poling and senior Courtney Arno. Poling completes a very solid all-around and shares the team-high individual score on vault. Arno also performs well as she leads the team on the bars and beam.