Women hope to grow from Samford scare

The old saying goes that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

After surviving a major first-round scare, Southeast Missouri State's women hope the above adage holds true entering today's semifinals of the Ohio Valley Conference tournament.

The second-seeded Redhawks (21-7), who have already posted their most victories since moving to Division I in 1991-92, play third-seeded Tennessee Tech (21-7) at 2 p.m. at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, Tenn.

A victory would send the Redhawks into Saturday's noon championship game, where they would be shooting for their first NCAA Division I tournament berth.

"It's an exciting time for everybody in the program," Southeast coach B.J. Smith said. "We're really looking forward to it."

Southeast almost didn't have anything to look forward to as heavy underdog Samford nearly pulled off an upset in Tuesday's opening-round game. But the host Redhawks survived 47-45.

"You're going to have a bad game along the way," Smith said. "If you can survive, I really think it makes you better. I don't know if you want it, but if you can survive it, you sure like it.

"At this time of the year, it doesn't matter if you win by one point every game, as long as you win. We'll take two one-point wins these next two days."

Today's matchup appears intriguing as the squads split their two regular-season meetings in different fashions.

On Jan. 8 in Cookeville, Tenn., Southeast held a 17-point lead early in the second half only to see Tech rally for an 80-78 victory that was fueled in large part by 40 free-throw attempts to only 17 for the Redhawks.

But the Redhawks gained a measure of revenge on Jan. 20 at the Show Me Center as they romped 62-45 in a game that wasn't even that close.

Despite the blowout victory, Smith has plenty of respect for the Eaglettes, who have won a record nine OVC tournament titles, although none since 1999-2000.

"Tech is probably the elite program in the OVC. Over the years they've been the most successful," Smith said. "It's going to be a battle. It won't be easy.

The contest will match arguably the OVC's two top players in junior centers Emily Christian and Tatiana Conceicao.

Tech's Christian, the OVC's leading scorer at 19.6 points per game, was the league's preseason player of the year. She had 32 points on 13-for-17 shooting in a first-round tournament rout of Tennessee-Martin.

But Southeast's Conceicao, second in conference scoring at 17.9 points per game, won the player of the year award Thursday night. She and Christian both rank high in a host of other league statistical categories.

Smith said Tech presents a dilemma for defenses: Tech leads the OVC in 3-point shooting at 39.5 percent, but the Eaglettes also have Christian on the inside.

"Emily is so good inside, if you leave her one on one, she'll score herself," Smith said. "They're a very good team."

But the Redhawks have also proven to be a very good team this year. While Southeast, Tech and regular-season champion Eastern Kentucky appear to rank as something of tri-favorites, Smith sees no reason why his squad can't prevail this weekend.

"I don't think it will be easy, but I obviously think we've got as good a chance as anybody," he said.