Harriel fractures finger, out indefinitely

The Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team just can't avoid the injury bug.

Southeast lost another key player over the weekend as the Redhawks competed at the David Jones Classic in Houston, Texas.

Senior forward Brittany Harriel, arguably Southeast's top player, injured a finger midway through the first half of Friday's 61-44 loss to tournament host Houston.

Harriel, after being taken to a Houston-area hospital for X-rays following the game, was found to have a fracture of her left ring finger. She will be out indefinitely and is expected to miss at least several weeks.

"We're all very disappointed, as a team and for Brittany," Southeast coach Ty Margenthaler said. "Brittany is such a big part of this team. She can score, she's been around four years.

"To replace her is really difficult but we've got to do it as a team. We talk a lot about the next player up. I told our kids, we have to step up."

Harriel is averaging 10.4 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, both second on the squad. She led the Redhawks in both categories last year with averages of 10.2 points and 6.9 boards.

Margenthaler said Southeast will likely get a better indication of how long Harriel might be out after the Redhawks return to Cape Girardeau today and she is examined by Southeast's medical personnel.

"We'll know more then," Margenthaler said.

Southeast was already without two key players for the entire campaign. Guard Katie Norman was forced to end her basketball career because of lingering back problems and forward Brooke Taylor suffered a torn ACL during preseason practice.

"We can't control it, but it's extremely frustrating," Margenthaler said.

From staff reports