Southeast plays host to four-team Classic

Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball coach B.J. Smith is glad his team will finally get to play some home games around the Thanksgiving holiday.

The four-team Southeast HealthPoint Plaza Thanksgiving Classic takes place today and Saturday at the Show Me Center, with two games both days.

Southeast (1-1) plays Texas Southern (0-1) at 7 p.m. tonight, following a contest between Arkansas-Little Rock (0-2) and Illinois-Chicago (0-2) at 5 p.m.

Saturday, Southeast squares off with Illinois-Chicago at 4 p.m., following a matchup between Arkansas-Little Rock and Texas Southern at 2 p.m.

"The last two years we've had to go on the road around Thanksgiving time," Smith said. "Having these games at home will be really good for us, and this way, some of the players' families will be able to come in."

The Thanksgiving Classic is not an actual tournament, so no championship trophy will be awarded, but Smith said an all-tournament team will be selected.

While none of the other three squads coming in are powerhouses, Smith said he expects some solid competition, with Illinois-Chicago and Arkansas-Little Rock appearing to be up-and-coming programs.

"They're similar to us in that they've got fairly new coaches who have been successful at other places, and both teams are wanting to move up," Smith said. "I don't know a whole lot about Texas Southern, but I think all the teams will be competitive."

Illinois-Chicago third-year coach Lisa Ryckbosch led the Flames to 29 victories in her first two seasons, which is more than anyone in school history.

The Flames, 12-16 last year, return eight players who averaged at least 14 minutes per game, including leading scorer Chrissy Dizon (14.3 points per game).

Arkansas-Little Rock coach Joe Foley's rookie season last year featured the Trojans' most overall victories and Sun Belt Conference wins since the program was resurrected for the 1999-2000 season.

The Trojans, 10-17 last year, return their top three scorers, led by Alicia Cash (16.7 ppg).

Texas Southern, 11-17 a year ago, is led by Jennifer Hickman, who averaged 13.6 points per game last season.

Southeast will be looking to get a streak going after notching its first win of the year, Tuesday's 107-45 rout of NAIA Lyon College. Southeast opened the season Friday with an 84-62 loss at 21st-ranked Oklahoma, although the squads were tied at halftime.

With 11 newcomers on a 15-player roster, Smith said: "We just want to keep improving, and these two games should be good for us. They're important games for us. We really need to do well this weekend."

Smith said he appreciates all that Southeast Hospital is doing to help put on the event, including a Thanksgiving dinner for all the teams that was held Thursday night.

"They're footing the bill for almost the whole thing," Smith said. "They're doing a lot for us."