Seven Southeast women will be honored

Southeast Missouri State women's basketball coach John Ishee won't enjoy bidding farewell to his senior class.

Not only does the group have quantity, there also is plenty of quality.

The Redhawks' seven seniors will be recognized today when Southeast plays its final regular-season home game against Tennessee-Martin at 5:30 p.m.

"This senior class has done a lot of great things at Southeast Missouri State, both in the classroom and on the basketball floor," said Ishee, whose team is still in the running to host a first-round Ohio Valley Conference tournament game. "They're all good citizens.

"We're really going to miss this entire group."

Although Southeast (14-12, 9-6) will fall short of another OVC regular-season championship, most of the seniors already have experienced several titles.

Ishee led the Redhawks to consecutive OVC regular-season crowns in his first two seasons, along with an OVC tournament title and NCAA tournament berth.

Several of the seniors also were around when Southeast won OVC regular-season and tournament titles in 2005-06, although those championships later were wiped off the books because of NCAA violations.

Southeast's most notable seniors are point guard Tarina Nixon and wing Sonya Daugherty, who became the 15th and 16th players in program history to score 1,000 or more career points earlier this season.

Nixon, a four-year starter, is the only remaining Southeast player who received significant minutes on the 2005-06 team. She ranks high on many of the school's career lists and has a chance to break the all-time record for 3-point field goals.

Daugherty, a three-year starter, was the MVP of the 2006-07 OVC tournament during Ishee's first season.

Nixon leads Southeast in scoring this year at 13 points per game, with Daugherty second at 12.7 following Thursday's career-high 31-point effort in a key win over Murray State.

"Those two have time and again proved their mettle," Ishee said.

Forward Rachel Blunt, from Dexter, Mo., has started the past two seasons and been a four-year squad member.

Blunt, currently averaging six points, has been solid on the court but brilliant off it. She is a two-time Academic All-District selection with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average.

"You're talking about the ultimate student-athlete," Ishee said.

Guard Szandra Pal, the final four-year team member, has seen considerable action during her career, primarily off the bench.

Guard Mathilde Dufour has seen limited action during her three seasons, while guard Tierra Johnson has seen a fair amount of playing time during her two years after transferring from junior college.

Forward Crysta Glenn, like Johnson a junior college transfer in her second season at Southeast, has blossomed after being the Redhawks' top reserve last year.

Glenn is Southeast's No. 3 scorer with a 10.3 average and leads the Redhawks in rebounding at 8.2.

Despite going up against taller, bulkier players most of the time, Glenn is the OVC's fifth-leading rebounder.

"She's just been outstanding since she came here," Ishee said.

While the seniors have all filled different roles, Ishee finds it easy to lump them together in at least one regard.

"They've all been very valuable," he said.

About UTM

Tennessee-Martin (2-23, 0-14) is in the OVC cellar, but features one of the league's better players in senior forward Phyllisha Mitchell.

Mitchell leads the Skyhawks with averages of 14.5 points and 12.8 rebounds. She is the OVC's top rebounder and ranks third nationally.