North Alabama (5-0) vs. Southeast Missouri (1-3)

Game Information
Date: Saturday, November 24, 2018
Tip-off: 2 p.m., CT
Location: Newark, N.J.
Arena: Wellness and Events Center
Series: First Time Meeting
Last Meeting: First Time Meeting
Head Coaches: Rekha Patterson (43-52, Fourth Season), Missy Tiber (83-62, Fifth Season).
 
Media Information
Video: Highlanders Sports Network
Radio: SEMO ESPN 1220 AM (Clint Allen)
Live Stats: NJITHighlanders.com
Twitter: @SEMOWBB

NJIT (0-5) vs. Southeast Missouri (1-3)

Game Information
Date: Sunday, November 25, 2018
Tip-off: 1 p.m., CT
Location: Newark, N.J.
Arena: Wellness and Events Center
Series:First Time Meetings
Last Meeting: First Time Meetings
Head Coaches: Rekha Patterson (43-52, Fourth Season), Mike Lane (0-5, First Season).
 
Media Information
Video: ESPN+
Radio: SEMO ESPN 1220 AM (Clint Allen)
Live Stats: NJITHighlanders.com
Twitter: @SEMOWBB

Tipping Off
The Southeast Missouri women's basketball team heads to the New Jersey Institute of Technology for a Thanksgiving Classic. All games will be played at the Wellness and Event Center. The games against host NJIT will be broadcast on ESPN+, while the neutral games will air on the Highlander Sports Network. 

Follow the Redhawks
Fans can listen to this weekend's game live on the radio on SEMO ESPN 1220 AM with Clint Allen calling the action. The broadcast is also streamed live at SEMOESPN.com and on the SEMOESPN app. Video is available on ESPN+ and Highlander Sports Network. Live stats can be accessed at NJITHighlanders.com. Twitter updates will be available at @SEMOwbb.

Series History
This is the first time in program history that Southeast will face  NJIT and North Alabama. 

How We Got Here
Southeast Missouri is off to a 1-3 start with losses at #6 Mississippi State (88-53, Nov. 6), Bradley (85-79, Nov. 10) and Southern Illinois (60-40, Nov. 14). The lone win came against Western Illinois (81-71, Nov. 20), with four Redhawks scoring in double figures. Tesia Thompson leads the team with 20.8 points per game. 

Scouting the Lions
The Lions finished the 2017-18 season with a 24-5 record and 17-3 mark in the Gulf South Conference, UNA ended as second in the conference and advanced to the 2018 NCAA Tournament. The Lions lost four letterwinners and one starter from a year ago. Emma Wallen, the only returning starter, averages 16.6 points per game this season. North Alabama gained five newcomers, including former UT Martin player Ansley Eubank. Eubank has averaged 9.2 ppg and 3.8 rebounds per game. The Lions are 5-0 after racking up wins against Lane (98-57, Nov. 10), Blue Mountain (70-42, Nov. 13), Stillman (99-43, Nov. 17) and Alabama State (68-42, Nov. 19), all of which were home contests. 

Scouting the Highlanders
The Highlanders are still searching for their first win under first-year head coach Mike Lane. NJIT has fallen to Saint Peter's (57-70, Nov. 6), Howard (57-77, Nov. 9), West Virginia (50-95, Nov.11), Penn (42-85, Nov.17) and Fairleigh Dickinson (43-64, Nov. 20). Danielle Tunstall currently leads the Highlanders with 11 points per game. Ellyn Stoll leads the team in free throw percentage after going 12-of-13 (.923) so far this season. In 2017-18, NJIT finished 4-26 overall with a 2-12 record in ASUN play. 

Thompson Named Preseason All-OVC Team
Sophomore guard Tesia Thompson was named Preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference. In her rookie campaign, Thompson registered 398 points, 51 steals and 164 rebounds. The Memphis, Tennessee native shot a team-high 118-of-163 (.724) at the free-throw line. She averaged 12.8 points in 27.2 minutes per game.

Murphy's Splash
Senior Adrianna Murphy has been making a splash in the record books for Southeast Missouri. Murphy is currently ranked second in program history in assists (506) and third in steals (223). Sherry Mitchell (1987-1991) holds the record for assists (639) and steals (335). 

Last Time Out
Southeast Missouri defeated Western Illinois, 81-71, on Nov. 20. Four Redhawks scored in double figures, including, Carrie Shephard (16), Adrianna Murphy (20), Tesia Thompson (24), and Taelour Pruitt (10). Thompson recorded her second double-double of the season (24 pts, 10 reb) and fourth of her career. Murphy recorded her 60th career five-plus assist game after racking up nine against the Leathernecks.