Southeast women drop exhibition contest

Southeast Missouri State women's basketball coach John Ishee expects his young, inexperienced team to have its share of growing pains.

Hot-shooting Christian Brothers University made Monday night's exhibition game at the Show Me Center a painful proposition for the Redhawks.

The Division II Bucs from Memphis, Tenn., who went 11-16 last year, routed Southeast 71-55.

"Obviously we have a lot of growing up to do," Ishee said following Southeast's only exhibition contest.

The Redhawks lost 77 percent of their scoring and 78 percent of their rebounding from last season's 15-15 squad. Southeast has only four returning players, with the remainder of the roster consisting of nine freshmen.

Southeast Missouri State's Lesley Adams grabs a rebound away from Christian Brothers University's Jasmine Ellis during Monday's exibition game at the Show Me Center. (LAURA SIMON)

So Ishee knows patience will be important for the Redhawks as they try to gain seasoning before the start of Ohio Valley Conference play.

"We're playing for the conference," Ishee said. "I like our talent. We've got some pieces. We've just got to get better in all facets."

Sophomore point guard Bianca Beck said she's not concerned despite Monday's shellacking.

"I think they [the freshmen] just got their feet wet a little bit. Now they know what to expect," Beck said. "We're going to play a lot better now."

Several freshmen actually were Southeast's best players Monday as they combined for all but nine of the 55 points.

Southeast Missouri State's Bailie Roberts takes a shot over Christian Brothers University's Jessica Green during Monday's exhibition game at the Show Me Center. (LAURA SIMON)

Forwards Brittany Harriel and Patricia Mack led Southeast with 11 points apiece, followed by guard Jasmine Davis with 10. Forward Bailie Roberts was close behind with nine.

"They stepped up," Beck said of the freshmen.

Davis and Roberts joined Beck, senior center Lesley Adams and junior wing Lauren Sharpe in the starting lineup.

"I was encouraged by the play of several of the freshmen," Ishee said.

Mack, who hit 2 of 3 from 3-point range, scored all 11 of her points in the second half. Harriel had nine of her 11 points in the final period.

Davis, who had eight first-half points, was 2 of 3 from beyond the arc.

"Just getting experience, playing through some things, getting mentally tough," Harriel said when asked what the freshmen need to do to get better. "It was good, but we definitely need to step it up."

Ishee's biggest disappointment Monday was Southeast's defense.

CBU's Princeton-style attack, designed to get either open 3-pointers or layups, produced 54 percent shooting. The Bucs made 9 of 17 3-pointers (52.9 percent).

"Defensively, I thought we were absolutely horrible," Ishee said. "When you run that Princeton-style offense, and you have freshmen that aren't seasoned, they'll expose you."

Southeast shot just 34.4 percent, although the Redhawks did make 6 of 10 3-pointers for 60 percent.

Senior guard Tameka Wooten, CBU's lone returning starter, scored 16 of her game-high 18 points in a first half that ended with the Bucs ahead 36-22. Wooten made 4 of 5 3-pointers.

"I don't want to take anything away from Christian Brothers. They shot the ball extremely well," Ishee said.

The Redhawks led only once all night, at 6-5. CBU opened a 23-11 lead less than nine minutes in and the Bucs were ahead by double digits for the final 31-plus minutes.

CBU's biggest advantage was 21 points, which the Bucs reached twice.

Now the games will count on Southeast's record, beginning with Friday's opener against Division II Missouri-St. Louis.