Redhawks women lose top scorer for season

Jasmine Davis had established herself as one of the Ohio Valley Conference's top freshmen while leading the Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team in scoring.

But Davis' rookie collegiate season is over after just 13 games.

An MRI revealed that Davis tore her anterior cruciate ligament and sprained her medial cruciate ligament in her left knee.

Davis injured the knee in the final minute of Monday's 56-53 win over Jacksonville State as she went down hard after being fouled. She eventually had to be carried off the court.

The date of the surgery to repair the injuries has not been set. Davis is expected to make a complete recovery and be ready for next season.

"First and foremost we are all sorry that such an unfortunate accident happened, and we will pray for her," coach John Ishee said in a release. "We are confident that through her parents' help, our excellent athletic training staff and the top-notch doctors that will perform the surgery that she will return faster and stronger than ever next season.

"It will be a long and tough road for her, but her mental toughness will see her through it."

Davis, a 5-foot-7 guard from Cincinnati, has started 11 of Southeast's 13 games this season. Her 10-point scoring average ranks 14th in the OVC and she leads the league with an 87.7 free-throw percentage (57 of 65).

Davis scored in double figure in eight of her 13 games, including the last four. She played in too many games to qualify for a medical redshirt, meaning she will have three years of eligibility remaining beginning next season.

"It's hard for any team to lose their leading scorer at this point in the season," Ishee said in the release. "She will be greatly missed but adversity creates opportunities for others.

"Someone will have to step up and fill that huge void that we lose with Jasmine's injury, but I'm confident we have the players that are up to such a task."

Southeast, 5-8 overall and 2-2 in the OVC, will carry a two-game winning streak into Saturday's 2 p.m. OVC contest at Eastern Illinois (7-8, 3-1).