Southeast women face similar foe in UALR

The Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team is off to a 2-0 start with two straight home wins.

Coach John Ishee believes the Redhawks might have to play their best game of the young season to remain perfect.

A talented University of Arkansas-Little Rock squad pays a visit to the Show Me Center tonight in an intriguing matchup of defending champions.

Little Rock won last year's Sun Belt Conference West Division title, compiling a 23-9 record and a 14-4 league mark. The Trojans earned a WNIT berth.

Southeast captured its second Ohio Valley Conference regular-season crown in as many years under Ishee. The Redhawks went 23-9 overall, 17-3 in OVC play and participated in the WNIT.

"They're a very good team from a very good league," Ishee said. "It will take a really good game from us, probably our best game of the season so far."

Little Rock, coming off the first back-to-back 20-win seasons in school history, tied for first in the preseason poll of the Sun Belt West Division.

The Trojans feature a pair of preseason all-Sun Belt first-team players in 5-foot-10 junior guards Kim Sitzmann and Anshel Cooper.

Sitzmann, a two-time all-Sun Belt second-team honoree, averaged 12.4 points per game last year.

Cooper earned all-Sun Belt third-team honors after averaging 12.8 points last season.

Little Rock has, like Southeast, won its first two games this season at home, blowing out Sam Houston State 81-52 and Southern Arkansas 72-43.

Cooper is off to a hot start, averaging 22 points while shooting 67.9 percent from the field (19 of 28).

Chastity Reed, a 6-1 sophomore forward, already has posted two double-doubles. She is averaging 13.5 points and 11 rebounds.

Sitzmann also is scoring in double figures with a 12-point average. She has hit 6 of 12 3-pointers.

"They've got really good players," Ishee said. "They're a very talented team."

Southeast has been led by 5-10 senior forward Crysta Glenn, who is averaging 18 points and 9.5 rebounds. Glenn, shooting 73.3 percent (11 of 15), has been the Redhawks' top scorer and rebounder in each game.

Sonya Daugherty, a 5-7 senior wing, and 6-0 senior forward Rachel Blunt also are averaging in double figures at 12.5 and 10.5 points, respectively.

Points could be hard to come by tonight. Little Rock was ranked No. 3 in the nation in scoring defense the last two years, while Southeast also emphasizes defense.

The Trojans have allowed 47.5 points per game so far, with Southeast at 52.5 points.

"It should be a really good basketball game between two quality programs," Ishee said.