Southeast women try to build on OU outing

Southeast opens its home schedule tonight against Lyon College.

By Marty Mishow ~ Southeast Missourian

Although it wound up being a 22-point loss, Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball coach B.J. Smith was encouraged by his inexperienced team's season-opening performance at 21st-ranked Oklahoma Friday night.

Today, Smith hopes to receive more encouragement and also gain a win when Southeast tips off its home schedule at 5 p.m. against NAIA Lyon College from Batesville, Ark.

Southeast and Oklahoma were tied 38-38 at halftime before the Sooners pulled away in the second half.

"I was very encouraged," Smith said. "It's the first time we went over there and felt like we were in the game. The first two years we played them, they really put it to us.

"Looking at the tape, we had a lot of mistakes, but those are correctable. It wasn't the talent that got us. My assistants keep telling me to be patient, which we have to do with this group."

Southeast was largely doomed by 31 turnovers at Oklahoma. But there were plenty of positives, including the 26-point performance of junior college transfer center Tatiana Conceicao, one of 11 newcomers on Southeast's 15-player roster.

"She's that type of player," Smith said. "And it wasn't like she had the best game of her life. She's just very talented."

Another junior college transfer, forward Natalie Purcell, added 15 points, while senior forward Chandra Brown -- the squad's only returning starter -- grabbed 11 rebounds.

"Natalie played well, and so did Chandra," Smith said.

Southeast figures to have its way today with Lyon, which was 4-2 entering a game Monday night at Columbia (Mo.) College. The Pipers were 11-19 last year.

"We ought to have a chance to do some things against them," Smith said. "But this is one of those games where we're a lot more concerned about us. A lot of these early games are going to be like that.

"We just want to keep improving. We've got a lot of talent, and if we can get better every game, then we've got a chance to have a very good basketball team."