SMS turns back Southeast

Southwest Missouri State coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson wanted to let anybody but Tatiana Conceicao beat the Bears.

The rest of Southeast Missouri State University's team came close, but in the end Abrahamson-Henderson's strategy paid off Wednesday night.

Conceicao, Southeast's junior center who averages nearly 21 points a game and ranks 14th nationally, got into early foul trouble and was a nonfactor, scoring just five points.

Southeast still gave SMS a battle before the perennial national power Bears escaped with a 73-64 victory. About 125 people braved the blizzard-like conditions and made it to the Show Me Center.

"Conceicao is really good. Our game plan was to control her," Abrahamson-Henderson said. "Our goal was to keep it out of her hands and make some of the other people score."

Southeast coach B.J. Smith knew it was imperative for Conceicao to avoid foul trouble. He also thought Southeast had to shoot well from the outside to have a chance at upsetting the Bears.

"I thought there were two things we had to do to win, and we didn't do either one," Smith said. "We had to have the right people stay out of foul trouble and have the right people make shots. They do a good job in their zone, and we needed to hit some 3s."

Southeast made just 8 of 27 3-pointers (29.6 percent) in losing its fourth straight game and falling to 4-5. Still, Smith could find little fault in his team's performance, particularly its 12 turnovers. Southeast was averaging more than 18 turnovers a game.

"It was our best effort as far as executing our game plan," Smith said. "We did a lot of good things. Other than making shots, I didn't really have a whole lot of complaints."

Senior guard Brandi Russia led Southeast with 16 points, while adding three assists and three steals. Junior forward Simone Jackson had 14 points, six rebounds and three assists. Junior forward Natalie Purcell added 10 points, and junior guard Wanika Owsley pulled down nine rebounds.

"We definitely have some things to work on, but I feel we can play with anyone," Russia said. "Obviously it hurt with Tatiana getting in foul trouble because she's one of our main scorers."

SMS senior guard Jenni Lingor, second nationally in scoring at nearly 23 points per game, had 28 points and 10 rebounds for the Bears (5-4). She hit 5 of 9 3-pointers. Senior guard K.C. Cowgill added 15 points, as she hit 4 of 7 3s.

"We knew on their home court they would be tough," said Lingor. "They hustle and never give up, but any time you win on the road it's a good win."

Said Smith: "Since I've been here, Lingor is the one that just puts a dagger in us. She's a great player."

Southeast held an early 7-3 lead, but SMS went ahead 14-12 with a little less than 14 minutes left in the first half and never trailed again. It was 40-32 at halftime.

The Bears built a 44-32 lead early in the second half, and, after fighting off several Southeast charges, appeared to be comfortably in front 70-58 with two minutes left.

But Southeast scored six straight points to pull within 70-64 and had several possessions with a chance to draw even closer, but they could not take advantage. SMS hit three free throws in the final 21 seconds to seal the victory.

"We thought we could beat them, but we didn't make enough shots," Russia said.

The Bears, ranked eighth nationally in 3-point shooting at nearly 41 percent, made 11 of 26 Wednesday night (42.3 percent).