Daugherty's returns from illness keeps Southeast win streak healthy

~ The sophomore scored 23 points in a 77-60 win over Eastern Illinois.

Sonya Daugherty was disappointed that she missed Southeast Missouri State's last two games because of an illness.

The Redhawks welcomed her back with open arms Thursday night at the Show Me Center.

Although Daugherty is not among Southeast's top players statistically, the sophomore guard has been a valuable performer off the bench, with a few starts thrown in.

Never was Daugherty more valuable than against Ohio Valley Conference opponent Eastern Illinois, as she scored a career-high 23 points to spark the Redhawks' seventh consecutive win, 77-60.

"I hated to miss those two games," Daugherty said. "It just felt good to be back out there."

With three of Southeast's star players spending much of the first half on the sidelines in foul trouble, Daugherty helped pick up the slack, as the Redhawks remained in second place in the OVC.

Southeast (10-4, 5-1) continues to trail Murray State by one game. The squads square off Monday in Murray, Ky.

"That's a big game, but we knew we had to focus on this game first," said Daugherty, who came off the bench Thursday.

Daugherty, who had been averaging 8.2 points per game, hit eight of 13 field goal attempts, along with six of eight free throws. She had previously not scored more than 14 points during her Southeast career.

But Daugherty had a storied career at Hancock High School, which ended with her being the top scorer in St. Louis prep history.

"Sonya came up big," Southeast acting head coach John Ishee said. "She was a prolific scorer in high school, and I'm sure she'll have more offensive games like this, but the biggest thing I was pleased with was her defensive efforts."

Southeast's top two scorers, junior forward Missy Whitney and junior guard Ashley Lovelady -- along with national rebounding leader Lachelle Lyles -- all picked up two early fouls, limiting them to a total of 22 first-half minutes.

Daugherty scored 12 first-half points, while senior center Joiceline Thesing was also key off the bench in the opening period with six points and five rebounds. Southeast led the Panthers (5-10, 2-4) 39-33 at the intermission.

"They kind of helped hold down the fort in the first half," Ishee said.

Which was no surprise to Southeast sophomore point guard Tarina Nixon, who also had a career scoring night with 22 points.

"Sonya is a good player. She could even start, but it's nice to have players off the bench give us energy," Nixon said. "Our bench really came through for us tonight. A lot of teams don't know much about our other players, but we catch them off guard with our bench.

"We're making it a team effort. We're not just relying on our first five."

With Daugherty continuing to score in the second half, Nixon putting in 15 points and Southeast's foul-plagued players back on the court, the Redhawks pulled away for their most lopsided OVC win of the season.

Nixon was 6-of-8 from the field -- including 4-of-6 on 3-pointers -- and made all six of her free throws. She also dished out six assists.

Nixon, who is shooting better than 45 percent from 3-point range on the season, has taken off since being hobbled for several games by an ankle injury. She has scored in double figures the past five games.

"It was hard to jump, pivot, do much of anything," said Nixon, whose previous high point total at Southeast was 21, attained last year. "Now, I'm feeling pretty good."

Said Ishee of Nixon, Southeast's only returning starter from last season's NCAA tournament team: "She's the most underrated guard in the OVC. She can beat you in a variety of ways, and she's a warrior."

Whitney, averaging 14.2 points per game prior to Thursday, finished with just six points, while Lovelady (12.7 ppg) scored 10 points.

Lyles, despite playing only 22 minutes, was her usual rebounding machine, as she grabbed 19 boards. She entered play averaging 16.3 rebounds per game.

Ishee also praised the defensive work sophomore guard Szandra Pal did on EIU freshman guard Jessica Huffman, the OVC's third-leading scorer at 18.1 points per game.

Huffman hit seven of 10 first-half shots and scored 19 points. She did not score in the second half, missing all five of her shots.

"We put Szandra on Huffman in the second half and she did a great job," Ishee said.

Southeast excelled overall defensively against the OVC's highest-scoring team.

The Redhawks lead the league in field goal percentage defense and they limited EIU to 32.8 percent while holding the Panthers 20 points below their season scoring average.

The Panthers' other star, sophomore forward Rachel Galligan, put in 19 points -- she is the OVC's No. 2 scorer with an 18.4 average -- but made just five of 15 field goals as she was hounded by Thesing, Lyles and others.

"We pride ourself on defense. It's our trademark," Ishee said. "If you don't defend, you don't get in."