Breaking out: Redhawks roll past Harris-Stowe 101-78

Although she is the tallest player in the program's history, Joiceline Thesing has not been much of a factor during her time at Southeast Missouri State.

Thesing and acting head coach John Ishee hope Tuesday's performance -- even though it came against an overmatched and small NAIA team -- changes that.

The 6-foot-6 Thesing had a career night with 15 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks as the Redhawks pulled away from stubborn Harris-Stowe for a 101-78 victory at the Show Me Center.

"It's my best game," said Thesing, a native of Brazil who came to Southeast last year from Labette (Kan.) Community College. "I think I can help out a lot more this year."

Thesing played an average of just 3.8 minutes per game for last year's Ohio Valley Conference championship squad. She averaged 1.4 points and 0.8 rebounds.

Missy Whitney, center, went for a loose ball with Harris-Stowe's Camron Weaver, left, and Chanel Ross during the first half of Tuesday's game at the Show Me Center. (DON FRAZIER ~ dfrazier@semissourian.com)

Ishee believes Thesing will have to contribute quite a bit more than that if the Redhawks are going to challenge again for the OVC title.

"She's talented and she's a super young person," said Ishee, who continues to run the team after fifth-year head coach B.J. Smith was placed on indefinite personal leave prior to the season. "We need her to play 20 minutes a night and this game was a great opportunity to get her a lot of minutes."

Thesing played 27 minutes, the most of any Southeast player. She hit seven of 16 field-goal attempts, mostly from in close, although she also nailed a 15-foot jumper.

Even though Thesing had been playing more this year, averaging 12.3 minutes off the bench prior to Tuesday, her previous season high had been six points, which also was a career high.

Thesing had never grabbed more than four rebounds in a game, but she did block five shots in one contest last year.

"It's nice to play this much," Thesing said. "I think this year I'll have more of an opportunity to show what I can do."

Missy Whitney also had a career scoring night for the Redhawks -- who evened their record at 2-2 -- although she has played just four games in a Southeast uniform and figures to have plenty big performances.

Whitney, a junior forward from Three Rivers Community College by way of Charleston High School, had 24 points thanks largely to hitting 11 of 11 free throws.

Whitney took over the team scoring lead from fellow junior college transfer Ashley Lovelady at 15.3 points per game.

Lovelady, a junior guard, had her third double-figure scoring performance in four games with the Redhawks. She finished with 15 points and is averaging 13.8 points.

Senior center Lachelle Lyles had her third straight double-figure rebounding game as she joined Thesing in posting a double-double with 13 points and 12 boards.

Sophomore forward Rachel Blunt was a fifth double-figure scorer for the Redhawks with a season-high 10 points.

Southeast outrebounded the much smaller Hornets (2-5) 59-41 and hit eight of 14 3-pointers, but the Redhawks had trouble shaking the visitors from St. Louis for much of the game.

Harris-Stowe, which already has doubled last year's win total, held several early leads and trailed just 46-38 at halftime.

The Redhawks scored the first five points of the second half and their lead never dipped under 11 points again.

Junior guard Chanel Ross led the Hornets with 26 points, while senior guard Laniya Stevens had 17 points and 16 rebounds.

"They were actually a good team, better than we thought," Whitney said.

Southeast won't have another game until visiting nationally ranked Baylor on Dec. 2.