Whitney X-rays are negative

All things considered, Southeast Missouri State women's basketball coach John Ishee felt relieved Monday after hearing the injury news regarding Missy Whitney.

X-rays revealed that Whitney, the Ohio Valley Conference preseason player of the year, does not have a broken foot.

It was feared that the senior center had suffered a break early in the second half of Sunday's game at Purdue.

Ishee said that he has been told by the Southeast medical staff that Whitney won't play in Thursday's OVC opener against Tennessee State, and she is doubtful for Saturday's league contest with Tennessee Tech.

"But it could have been a lot worse," Ishee said. "I think that's very good news."

Ishee said Whitney's foot is in a soft cast, and she is on crutches.

"We'll just have to see how it develops, but hopefully she won't be out too long," Ishee said.

Southeast suffered its fourth straight loss Sunday, 51-41 at perennial national power Purdue, but the Redhawks led 19-15 at halftime and trailed by one point with less than three minutes left.

"I was extremely pleased with our effort. I couldn't have been prouder," Ishee said. "We went toe-to-toe with them for 40 minutes in front of 9,000 people.

"We held them to their lowest point total in the first half ever in Mackey Arena. That says a lot about the way we played."

The Redhawks did all that with Whitney getting hurt and junior point guard Tarina Nixon playing only eight minutes because of lingering back problems.

Ishee said he expects Nixon to be ready when Tennessee State (2-5) visits the Show Me Center Thursday.