Redhawks' Nixon looks for another OVC crown

Southeast Missouri State women's basketball coach John Ishee doesn't think it's fair that Tarina Nixon seems to get overlooked around the Ohio Valley Conference.

The soft-spoken junior point guard doesn't really mind, as she would rather let her play on the court, and resulting team success, prove she belongs among the OVC's elite.

Ishee and Nixon's teammates sang her praises during Tuesday's media night as the Redhawks gathered at the Show Me Center.

"In my mind, Tarina is very underappreciated," Ishee said. "She's a vital part of our team. We kind of go as she goes.

"I wouldn't trade her for any other point guard in the conference, or in the country."

Nixon has been a major part of Southeast teams that have won consecutive OVC regular-season and tournament titles, while advancing to the NCAA tournament both years.

Despite leading the Redhawks in minutes played, steals and assists last season -- while also averaging 11 points per game and ranking among the OVC leaders in several categories -- Nixon has never received any type of all-conference honors.

Not that it matters to her.

"No. I'm all about winning and helping my teammates out," said the 5-foot-6 Nixon, a native of Gilbert, Ariz., near Phoenix. "When we do it as a whole, it's better than anything I can do as an individual.

"I appreciate that he [Ishee] feels that way, but it really doesn't matter."

The Redhawks have two seniors in OVC preseason player of the year Missy Whitney and Ashley Lovelady, but Nixon is Southeast's most experienced player on the Division I level.

As a true freshman in 2005-2006, Nixon was the only non-senior starter on Southeast's first OVC championship and NCAA tournament team.

Nixon played more of a supporting role that season, averaging just 5.6 points per game but ranking third in the OVC in 3-point field-goal percentage (40.5).

Last year, Nixon was the lone returning starter on a Southeast squad that was picked fifth in the OVC preseason poll yet repeated as league regular-season and tournament champions.

Nixon's 11-point scoring average was third on the Redhawks -- behind junior Sonya Daugherty and Whitney -- but she led them in minutes played, assists (103) and steals (52).

In the OVC, Nixon ranked second in 3-point shooting (40.9 percent), sixth in assist-to-turnover ratio and eighth in steals.

"I don't know what else you can do," said Ishee, whose squad plays its only exhibition game Nov. 1 and opens the regular season Nov. 10 at home against Tulsa.

Junior forward Rachel Blunt said the Redhawks consider Nixon their leader.

"Definitely," Blunt said. "If she's not out there telling us what to do, we're in shambles."

That means the Redhawks can't wait to get Nixon back on the court as she has not yet practiced because of lingering back problems that have been with her since her freshman season at Southeast.

Nixon said there is really nothing she can do for the back, except withstand the pain. She has been able to do that during her Southeast career.

"It's been tough, watching from the sidelines, but I hope to start jogging this week and start practicing next week," said Nixon, also an honors student. "It's bothered me the last couple of years, but I can play through it, so I'm not too worried.

"A lot of days it's unbearable, but I feel I have a high pain tolerance."

Ishee has no doubt about that.

"She's the female Maximus," said a laughing Ishee, referring to the hit movie Gladiator. "She's so tough mentally ... she's kind of resigned to the fact she'll have to play in pain."

As long as the Redhawks, who return four starters and four double-figure scorers from last year, are able to three-peat, Nixon said she will put up with just about anything.

But she knows that, despite being the OVC preseason favorite, things don't figure to come easy.

"We're starting out the season just like everybody else," Nixon said. "We have to prove ourselves all over."