Southeast women keep pace with 66-58 victory

~ The Redhawks defeated Morehead State for their ninth win in 10 games.

Tarina Nixon has been a clutch performer throughout her Southeast Missouri State basketball career.

Missy Whitney has made a habit of getting to the free-throw line in recent games.

Both players continued those trends Thursday night as the host Redhawks beat stubborn Morehead State 66-58.

"They both came up big for us," Southeast coach John Ishee said.

Southeast Missouri State's Crysta Glenn shot a three-pointer over Morehead State defender Brittany Pittman during Thursday's game at the Show Me Center. (Kit Doyle)

With Nixon and Whitney each scoring 22 points, Southeast won for the ninth time in its last 10 games and stayed on the heels of Eastern Illinois in the tight Ohio Valley Conference race.

The second-place Redhawks (13-6, 8-2) pulled to within one-half game of the Panthers, who were idle. The teams are tied on the loss side.

"Every game is big," said Whitney as the Redhawks chase their third straight OVC championship.

Nixon, a junior point guard, hit three 3-pointers in the final 10 minutes, including one that put the Redhawks ahead for good.

Nixon, who played all 40 minutes, added four steals.

"Tarina just does what Tarina does," Ishee said. "She's such a clutch player."

Nixon, a starter since her freshman season, shrugged when it was suggested that she seems to come up with baskets in key situations.

"I don't know. I just shoot the ball when I'm open. If it goes in, it goes in," said Nixon, averaging nearly 18 points in the last four games.

Whitney, a senior center who was voted the OVC preseason player of the year, had shot 60 free throws in the last seven games entering Thursday.

Whitney did not attempt a foul shot in the first half, but she got to the line six times in the opening minutes of the second half and finished 11-of-12 from the charity stripe.

"They were doubling me in the first half, and I was kicking it out," said Whitney, averaging 18 points in the last seven games. "But coach always tells me to be aggressive."

Whitney is 39-of-43 from the line in the past four games. She grabbed 10 rebounds for her first double-double of the season, while adding four steals and three blocks.

No other Southeast player scored more than seven points. Junior guard Sonya Daugherty, who entered averaging more than 14 points, got into early foul trouble and finished with four points.

Southeast got a lift from backups Crysta Glenn and Tierra Johnson, who combined for 13 of the Redhawks' 31 first-half points as they led 31-30 at the intermission.

Glenn, a junior forward who is Southeast's top bench player, had seven points.

"I just try to come in and do what I can to help the team get ahead," Glenn said.

Johnson, a junior guard, added six points. She also had three steals in the opening period and finished the contest with four.

"They both gave us a lift," Ishee said. "I thought T.J. [Johnson] played great. I thought she kept us in the game the first half."

Things were tight throughout, with seven lead changes and six ties.

Southeast's biggest advantage was the final eight-point margin, while the Eagles (7-12, 5-6) led by five points.

"They wouldn't go away," Glenn said.

Nixon's first 3-pointer of the second half, with 9 minutes, 16 seconds remaining, put Southeast up for good at 48-45.

Southeast never could shake the Eagles, but the last of Nixon's three second-half treys, with 2:28 left, gave the Redhawks a bit of breathing room at 62-55.

After Morehead State made it 62-58, Whitney and Nixon both hit two free throws in the final 20 seconds to seal the victory.

"They're a tough team," Ishee said. "It's a real good win for us."

The Redhawks went 19-of-20 from the line in the second half and finished 25-of-30 as they evened their OVC home record at 2-2.

Southeast is 6-0 in conference road games.

"It's about time we won at home," Nixon said.

Southeast plays at Murray State on Saturday. The Racers beat the Redhawks earlier this season at the Show Me Center.