Southeast women's basketball preview: Ishee turns to youth to reload roster

~ The Redhawks lost 77 percent of their scoring from last year

John Ishee's first two years as the Southeast Missouri State women's basketball coach featured two Ohio Valley Conference regular-season championships, one OVC tournament title and one NCAA tournament berth.

The Redhawks dipped to a 15-15 record and fifth-place OVC finish last season as they failed to reach the conference tournament semifinals for the first time in seven years.

Ishee now faces an even more challenging season as Southeast's new-look roster features nine freshmen along with just four returning players, none of whom averaged more than eight points per game in 2008-09.

Ishee likes the talent of his team if not the experience entering Friday night's season opener at home against Division II Missouri-St. Louis.

Southeast's Lesley Adams chases down a loose ball during Monday's exhibition game at the Show Me Center. (LAURA SIMON)

"I think our talent level is good," said Ishee, 62-32 entering his fourth season at Southeast. "We're obviously a work in progress, but I like our group. We'll try to get better every day.

"We expect to put a product on the floor that is competitive and contends for conference championships. A lot of it depends on how quick we grow up."

The Redhawks lost 77 percent of their scoring and 78 percent of their rebounding from last season. That inexperience was evident during Southeast's lone exhibition game, Monday's 71-55 loss to a Division II Christian Brothers squad that went 11-16 last year.

Southeast's top returner statistically is junior wing Lauren Sharpe. She averaged eight points per game and ranked fourth in the OVC in steals while making 19 starts.

Sophomore point guard Bianca Beck (2.8 ppg) made 14 starts, while senior center Lesley Adams (2.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg) is the team's top returning rebounder. Southeast's only senior started six games last year.

Sophomore center Amber Holmes (1.1) joins Adams as the team's tallest players, both standing 6 foot 2.

"We'll count on our returning players for leadership," Ishee said. "We're going to have to have big seasons from them."

Ishee also will have to lean heavily on the nine freshmen, many of whom will be asked to play prominent roles right away.

Up front are Brittany Harriel, Patricia Mack, Shanece Miller and Bailie Roberts.

Guards are Jasmine Davis, Shelah Fields and Erika Lane, while Monica Miller and Katie Norman play the wing position.

Lane hasn't practiced yet because of two stress fractures. Ishee said he hopes to have her back soon.

"I believe our freshman class is very talented, but obviously they need to gain experience," Ishee said. "We play a really tough nonconference schedule, but hopefully that will help us get ready for the conference season."

Those outside the program are expecting the Redhawks to struggle as Southeast was picked seventh in the OVC preseason poll. That didn't surprise Ishee.

"Based on what we have returning, I would have been shocked if we had not been picked in the bottom half of the conference," Ishee said. "But that's on paper. That's why you play games."

The Redhawks don't appear bothered by the preseason predictions.

"It's a little nervewracking, with all the freshmen, but I think once they understand all the hard work it takes, we'll have a lot of success," Sharpe said. "I think we'll surprise quite a few people."