Redhawks optimistic first win is at hand

~ Southeast will host Division II Arkansas-Monticello tonight.

Failing to upset one of the nation's premier teams in its season opener, Southeast Missouri State's women figure to get back to the .500 mark tonight.

The Redhawks, who lost at then-13th ranked Texas Tech 85-56 on Friday, welcome Division II Arkansas-Monticello to the Show Me Center for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff.

While acknowledging that his team should be able to handle Arkansas-Monticello, Southeast coach B.J. Smith also warned against overlooking the Cotton Blossoms.

"It's one of those games we should win, but we don't want to take any team lightly," Smith said. "It's important you win all the ones you're supposed to, but it's not an automatic."

While disappointed that Southeast was not able to threaten an upset at Texas Tech, Smith believes that kind of game will do nothing but benefit the Redhawks.

"We went down there with the expectations to win, but it gave us a better understanding of how important little things are, the ability to execute what we wanted to get done," Smith said. "I was frustrated with the final score because the game was closer than that, but it was good for us."

Southeast, which trailed 44-31 at halftime, received solid play off the bench from freshman guard Tarina Nixon and 6-foot-6 center Joiceline Thesing, a junior college transfer who is the tallest player in the program's history.

Nixon hit two of three 3-pointers and scored eight points. She also had three assists and two rebounds. Thesing had five points and three rebounds.

"Tarina played well, especially for a freshman," Smith said. "Joiceline also played well. She came in, hit a couple of buckets and controlled their post players."

Arkansas-Monticello, off to a 2-1 start, is an experienced team that returns most of the key players from last year's 15-14 squad.

The Cotton Blossoms are led by 5-foot-6 junior guard TeAundra Harden, who is averaging 18 points per game so far, including a 33-point performance.

Jenna Thomas, a 5-10 senior forward, is averaging 14 points per game.

"They're physically athletic, and they're shooting a ton of threes," Smith said. "We'll have to come ready to play."

Tonight's contest begins a four-game homestand for the Redhawks, who have their second annual HealthPoint Plaza Thanksgiving Classic Friday and Saturday, with games against Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Henderson State.

Southeast concludes the homestand with a Nov. 29 contest against Southern Illinois.

"These next four games are huge for us," Smith said. "It would be nice to get on a roll."