Southeast women's basketball team had disappointing end to big year

The season didn't end quite like Southeast Missouri State women's basketball coach John Ishee had hoped.

But all things considered, Ishee finds it hard to complain about the type of campaign the Redhawks put together.

Ishee's second season in charge of the Redhawks featured the program's third consecutive Ohio Valley Conference regular-season championship.

Southeast went 23-9 this season, giving the Redhawks a 47-17 record under Ishee.

Among the highlights of Southeast's season were a 10-0 OVC road record and an overall 17-3 conference mark, which set a league record for wins.

"We accomplished a lot of things," Ishee said. "Any time you win your conference championship, where you proved you were the best team over the course of a 20-game schedule, you've got to be pleased.

"We went undefeated on the road in the conference. We set a conference record for wins. Those are all things to be very proud of."

About the only down side to the Redhawks' season was the way it ended.

Southeast was denied a chance at its third straight OVC tournament title -- and the league's automatic NCAA tournament berth -- by losing to Eastern Illinois in the semifinals of the conference tournament.

The Redhawks received the OVC's automatic WNIT bid, but saw a 17-point halftime lead evaporate during a loss at Evansville.

"It was disappointing we didn't go to the NCAA tournament again, and I thought we should have won our WNIT game," Ishee said. "But I was pleased with our WNIT experience. For the players we have returning, it was a great experience that can only help them."

Now Ishee will start turning his attention to next season as he tries to keep Southeast at the top of the OVC.

Southeast has been the league's premier program over the past six seasons, with an overall 126-58 record and an 84-24 OVC mark. Both figures are the best in the conference during that period.

"We've really established our program, and we want to keep it up there at the top of the conference," Ishee said.

Even though Southeast loses two key senior starters in center Missy Whitney and guard Ashley Lovelady -- the squad's only seniors -- Ishee doesn't expect the Redhawks to take any steps backward.

Whitney will be particularly hard to replace as the first-team all-OVC performer led Southeast in scoring and rebounding with averages of 14.3 points and 7.4 boards. She also blocked 40 shots, which is 32 more than any other Redhawks player.

Lovelady averaged just 6.4 points, but she was one of Southeast's primary energy sources with her relentless defense and the intangibles she provided.

"We'll really miss both the seniors," Ishee said. "Missy commanded a double team every night, and Ashley brought so much passion, things that don't show up in the box score."

Everybody else on the roster is eligible to return, including No. 2 scorer Sonya Daugherty. The junior guard averaged 12 points. She also was second on the squad with 75 assists and 58 steals.

Junior point guard Tarina Nixon has been a three-year starter. The second-team all-OVC player averaged 9.5 points while leading the Redhawks with 86 assists and 59 steals.

Junior forward Rachel Blunt improved considerably from her first two years, averaging 7.8 points as she showed flashes of being a go-to offensive player next season.

Junior forward Crysta Glenn had a solid season after transferring from junior college, averaging 6.3 points and six rebounds, which was second on the team behind Whitney. Glenn made 12 starts and played the sixth-most minutes on the squad.

Most of the other players on the roster saw limited action, with junior guard Tierra Johnson, junior guard Szandra Pal and freshman guard Lauren Sharpe receiving the most playing time.

"I think we've got a pretty good nucleus of players coming back, and hopefully everybody that comes back will keep improving," Ishee said.

Ishee is excited about the four players Southeast signed for next season, including junior college center Trevonna Cannon and junior college forward Victoria Smith. He expects both to make immediate impacts.

"The community college players we signed both had really good years," Ishee said.

Ishee also likes the two incoming freshmen recruits, center Amber Holmes and point guard Bianca Beck, who helped lead Incarnate Word Academy of St. Louis to second place in the Class 5 state tournament.

Southeast again had one of the OVC's premier defensive teams -- leading the league in fewest points allowed with a 56.5 average -- but struggled with its shooting, an area where Ishee would like to see the Redhawks improve.

What doesn't need improvement is the Redhawks' record, and Ishee looks for their run of success to continue.

"Barring injuries and other unforeseen things, I think we'll have another good team," Ishee said. "I think we should be right up there [toward the top of the OVC] every year."