Game #12 | OVC #1
Southeast Missouri (4-7, 0-0 OVC)
at Murray State (8-3, 0-0 OVC)
Game Information
Date: Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021
Tip-off: 5 p.m., CT 
Location: Murray, Kentucky
Arena: CFSB Center
Series: SEMO leads Murray State, 36-31
Last Meeting: 67-64 Murray State Win | March 4, 2021 | 2021 OVC Tournament Championship First Round | Ford Center | Evansville, Ind. 
Head Coaches: Rekha Patterson (99-91, Seventh Season); Rechelle Turner (62-66, Fifth Season at Murray State)
Video: ESPN+
Radio: SEMOESPN 
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
 
Game #13 | OVC #2
Southeast Missouri (4-8, 0-1 OVC)
vs. Austin Peay (7-4, 0-1 OVC)
Game Information
Date: Saturday, Jan. 1, 2021
Tip-off: 2 p.m., CT 
Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Arena: Show Me Center
Series: Austin Peay leads SEMO, 34-27
Last Meeting: 73-68 SEMO Win (OT) | Feb. 13, 2021 | Winfield Dunn Center | Clarksville, Tenn. 
Head Coaches: Rekha Patterson (99-92, Seventh Season); Brittany Young (7-4, First Season at Austin Peay)
Video: ESPN+
Radio: SEMOESPN 
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Tickets

Follow the Redhawks
Twitter: @OfficialSEMOWBB
Media Guide: Southeast Missouri
Game Notes: SEMO at Murray State | SEMO vs. Austin Peay
Murray State | Austin Peay

Redhawks Open 2021-22 OVC Slate Thursday at Murray State and Saturday at Home Versus Austin Peay
Southeast Missouri women's basketball (4-7, 0-0 OVC) commences its 2021-22 Ohio Valley Conference slate Thursday and Saturday this week. The Redhawks head to league rival Murray State (8-3, 0-0 OVC) Thursday to open OVC play. Tip is set for 5 p.m., CT at the CFSB Center in Murray, Kentucky. The Redhawks then return home and ring in 2022 against Austin Peay on Saturday. First tip is 2 p.m. at the Show Me Center.

Follow the Redhawks 
Fans can listen to Thursday and Saturday's games live on the radio at SEMOESPN with Erik Sean calling the action. The games will also be televised live on ESPN+. Follow the game on Twitter @OfficialSEMOWBB.
 
Series History 
Murray State
SEMO leads the all-time series with Murray State, 36-31. The Racers won two of the three matchups with the Redhawks during the 2020-21 season including the two most recent. 
 
In the most recent meeting, Roshala Scott matched a career-high 22 points to lead five starters in double figures as #3 SEMO battled hard until the end in a close 67-64 loss to #6 Murray State in the First Round of the 2021 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament on March 4, 2021. Scott shot 10-of-19 from the field, had nine rebounds and two steals. Deanay Watson and LaTrese Saine followed with 11 points apiece. Saine, SEMO's all-time career blocks leader, also added nine blocks and six boards. Terri Smith and Sophie Bussard rounded out the Redhawks double-digit scorers with 10 points each.
 
The Racers also won the last meeting held in Murray, Kentucky, at the CFSB Center on Feb. 12, 2021.Roshala Scott dropped in a career-best tying 22 points while Tesia Thompson (21) and Sophie Bussard (14) combined for 35 points as SEMO dropped the road decision to Murray State, 81-79. SEMO has lost the last three contests with Murray State in Murray, Kentucky. 
 
SEMO won the initial 2020-21 matchup, 69-53, Jan. 14, 2021 at the Show Me Center. 
 
Austin Peay
The Governors lead the all-time series with SEMO, 34-27. SEMO won both meetings during the 2020-21 campaign and have won the last four matchups between the two institutions. 
 
In the most recent matchup, Taelour Pruitt registered a personal-high 25 points and combined with Tesia Thompson (20) and LaTrese Saine (15) for 60 points as SEMO outlasted Austin Peay, 73-68, in overtime Feb. 13, 2021 at the Winfield Dunn Center in Clarksville, Tennessee. Pruitt shot 6-for-8 from the field in her fourth game back from injury. The junior from Arlington, Texas, finished 4-for-6 on treys and 9-for-10 at the charity stripe. She also dished out four assists and tallied four steals in the victory.
 
The last time the two teams faced off in Cape Girardeau, SEMO extended its OVC win streak to five with a 74-61 victory over Austin Peay Jan. 16, 2021 at the Show Me Center. Tesia Thompson led all scorers with a season-high 33 points in her 100th career game in a Redhawks uniform. Thompson finished 12-for-21 from the field and was perfect at the charity stripe for the second-straight game (9-9, 17-17 past two games). She also had seven rebounds.
 
Scouting the Opponents
Murray State
The Racers fashioned an 8-3 non-conference mark this season. Murray State most recently lost to Florida, 67-51, Dec. 21 in Gainesville, Florida. 
 
The Racers are 5-0 in 2021-22 at the CFSB Center including wins over Lipscomb (74-50, Dec. 18) and North Alabama (74-60, Dec. 15). Murray State lost at Missouri, 76-70, in its second game of the campaign. Like the Redhawks, the Racers also beat Mississippi Valley State (74-50) on Nov. 23 in Itta Benna, Mississippi. 
 
Murray State was selected to finish third in the OVC in 2021-22 and received three first-place votes. 
 
Austin Peay
The Governors have jumped out to a 7-3 mark during non-conference play this season. Austin Peay enters their OVC slate on a four-game win streak after most recently downing UT Southern, 74-35, Dec. 21 in Clarksville, Tennessee. 
 
Austin Peay will face UT Martin Thursday at home at the Winfield Dunn Center before traveling to Cape to take on SEMO Saturday. 
 
The 2021-22 season marks the first for head coach Brittany Young at the helm of the program. Austin Peay was selected fifth in the preseason league poll ahead of SEMO (sixth). 
 
Austin Peay Connection
SEMO Assistant Coach David Midlick previously led the Austin Peay women's basketball team as the head coach before coming to Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Midlick guided the Governors to six-consecutive OVC Tournament appearances from 2015 to 2021. In his six seasons at the helm in Clarksville, Tennessee, Midlick coached five All-OVC players, including 2016-17 Player of the Year, Tearra Banks. Midlick led the Governors to 18 regular season wins in 2019-20.

SEMO in OVC Openers
SEMO is 3-3 in Ohio Valley Conference openers with head coach Rekha Patterson at the helm. The Redhawks last won their OVC opener during the 2019-20 season with a 79-66 victory at Austin Peay on Jan. 2, 2020.
 
SEMO fell to UT Martin, 61-58, last season on Dec. 18, 2020 to open the OVC slate. 
 
Xavier Recap 
SEMO dropped a hard fought battle at the BIG EAST's Xavier, 65-58, Dec. 19 at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. 

Shymaryia Christopher paced the Redhawks with a career-best matching 15 points with five rebounds. Taelour Pruitt chipped in 11 points with four rebounds and three steals. Deanay Watson hauled down a team-high 10 boards in a career-best 37 minutes and Halle Smith added a career-best matching eight with seven points and two blocks in 36 minutes of court time.
 
SEMO led the Musketeers, 48-40, after the third quarter before Xavier rallied back and claimed the victory with a 25-10 final frame.
 
Non-Conference Recap
SEMO went 4-7 in its 2021-22 non-conference slate. The Redhawks picked up wins over the University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy (UHSP, 68-45, Nov. 9), Mississippi Valley State (82-76, Nov. 26), Harris-Stowe State (95-57, Dec. 5) and Purdue Fort Wayne (68-51, Dec. 9).
 
Pruitt Ranks in the Top-10 in the OVC
Senior guard Taelour Pruitt ranks second in the OVC for three-point field goal attempts (70).
 
She most recently was second on the Redhawk scoring, chipping in 11with four rebounds and three steals.Pruitt shot 31 percent from the field in the non-conference finale. 
 
Pruitt paced SEMO with 16 points in the Redhawks' 68-51 win over Purdue Fort Wayne on Dec. 9, coming off the bench. She shot 4-for-10 including 40 percent from three-point range with four assists and two rebounds. Pruitt was also perfect at the charity stripe (6-for-6).
 
Pruitt also led the Redhawks offensively with a season-high 21 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals in 37 minutes in SEMO's 82-76 victory over Mississippi Valley State to open Southern Mississippi's Lady Eagle Thanksgiving Classic Nov. 26. Pruitt was 7-for-12 shooting from the field in the initial 20 minutes. She had 19 points at the break and surpassed 10 (11) after one quarter of action. Pruitt finished the game 8-for-18 from the field including 3-for-9 from distance and 2-for-2 on free throws.
 
Pruitt has played in all 11 games in 2021-22, starting in nine. She is averaging 10.5 points, 3.3 assists, and 3.0 rebounds in 25.9 minutes. She is shooting .303 from the field.
 
Cracking the Top-10 All-Time
Taelour Pruitt ranks 11th overall in SEMO program history for career 3-pointers (92), assists (247) and steals (126) and will look to break into the top-10 this season.
 
Pruitt most recently surpassed 700 career points (721) in the win over Purdue Fort Wayne.
 
Nothing Shy about Christopher
Redshirt-freshman Shymaryia Christopher has returned to the Redhawks Starting 5 the past four games due to injuries within the SEMO program.
 
She most recently led SEMO with a career-best matching 15 points and five rebounds at Xavier on Dec. 19. Christopher shot 7-for-12 from the floor in the non-conference finale. 
 
Christopher previously paced SEMO offensively with a career best 15 points with four rebounds in 24 minutes of action against Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Nov. 27). The Magnolia, Arkansas, guard, shot 4-for-8 from the field and was 7-of-10 at the free throw line.
  
Christopher has started in eight games for SEMO and has played in all 11 in 2021-22. She started the first four games this season. She is averaging 7.7 points and 3.2 rebounds in 18.0 minutes. Christopher is shooting 44 percent from the field and 40 percent from three-point range.
 
Smith in the Starting 5
Halle Smith, a freshman forward from Belle, Missouri, has started in the last four contests for the Redhawks. She has tallied double-digit point games in two of the last three games.
 
Smith had a career-best matching eight rebounds with seven points and two blocks in 36 minutes (career-high) of court time Dec. 19 at Xavier. She shot 30 percent from the field and posted a personal-best matching two blocks.
 
Smith notched 15 points with six rebounds in SEMO's 68-51 victory over Purdue Fort Wayne on Dec. 9. Smith shot 5-for-7 from the floor, including 2-for-2 on triples. She also was 75 percent at the free throw line and was SEMO's second-highest scorer in the non-conference win.
 
Smith registered a career-best 18 points Dec. 5 in the Redhawks win over Harris-Stowe State. Smith added a personal-best eight rebounds to complement her point total in 27 minutes. She shot 6-for-8 on field goals and 6-for-6 on free throws with two blocks in her second-straight start.
 
Smith made her first career start as a Redhawk against Saint Louis on Dec. 3, finishing with nine points and three boards.
 
She also registered consecutive 10-point games against Arkansas State (Nov. 22) and Mississippi Valley State (Nov. 26).
 
Smith has competed in all 11 games in 2021-22 and is averaging 834 points and 4.8 boards in 22.1 minutes. She is shooting just under 60 percent from the field and 50 percent from beyond the arc.
 
Patterson About to Eclipse 100 Wins
Head coach Rekha Patterson is one win away from 100 in her career at the helm of Southeast Missouri. In seven seasons at SEMO, Patterson has registered a mark of 99-90.

Career-High for Watson
Deanay Watson registered her first double-double outing of the 2021-22 campaign with a career-best 23 points, 11 rebounds with two steals and a block in 30 minutes of court time Dec. 5 against Harris-Stowe State. It was her second career double-double as a Redhawk.
 
Watson, a senior from Bradenton, Florida, was 9-for-12 from the field including 50 percent (1-for-2) from three-point range. She also was perfect 4-for-4 on free throws.
 
Watson has registered 10 or more points in three of SEMO's four most recent games including 10 against both Saint Louis (Dec. 3) and Purdue Fort Wayne (Dec. 9).
 
Watson most recently hauled down a team-high 10 boards in a career-best 37 minutes Dec. 19 at Xavier. She also had four points and two assists.
 
Watson is the only Redhawk to start in all 11 games this season. She has posted double-figure points in seven games. Watson is averaging 9.5 points per game with 5.6 boards in 27.5 minutes. Watson is shooting 59 percent from the field. 

Where We Rank in the OVC
SEMO ranks second as a team in the conference with 435 rebounds (39.55rpg). Deanay Watson leads the Redhawks with 62 (5.6rpg) followed by Halle Smith (53, 4.8rpg) and Roshala Scott (51, 4.6 rpg). Kennedi Watkins is averaging 6.0 (42) and Michaela Mayfield has tallied 44 (4.0).
 
The Redhawks are also second for blocked shots (37, 3.4 blocks/game) and third in the OVC for assists (154).
 
First Start for Tomlin
Kori Tomlin, a junior transfer from Moberly Area Community College, made her first career start as a Redhawk Dec. 9 against Purdue Fort Wayne. She finished with a career-best four steals, four assists and three points.
 
In the game prior, Tomlin posted a career-best 10 points in 24 minutes against Harris-Stowe State on Dec. 5. She was 3-for-9 shooting and 3-for-7 on triples with five assists and two steals.
 
Tomlin made her second-straight start Dec. 19 at Xavier, finishing with eight points on a .419 clip with a career-best four rebounds. 
 
In the last four games, Tomlin has dished out three or more assists including six against Saint Louis (Dec. 3).
 
Scott in the Starting Five
Roshala Scott has appeared in the Redhawks starting five each of the last seven games. Scott has finished in double-digits scoring in six of the last eight games for SEMO.
 
Scott most recently had nine points with six rebounds and six assists Dec. 19 at Xavier.
 
She compiled a season-high seven rebounds with 14 points against Purdue Fort Wayne (Dec. 9) and 18 versus Harris-Stowe State (Dec.  5).
 
Scott leads SEMO this season with 12.0 points/game (132 points) in just over 26 minutes. She is shooting 40 percent from the field with 4.6 rebounds per game.
 
In the OVC, Scott ranks seventh with an assist-turnover ratio of 1.33.
      
Redhawks Ink Alecia Doyle for 2022-23 Season
SEMO announced the signing of Alecia Doyle for the 2022-23 season Nov. 11. Doyle, a 5-8 guard from Herrin, Illinois, is a four-year starter and letter-winner and will graduate from Carterville High School in May 2022.
 
As a junior, she was named Southern Illinoisan Player of the Year, AP First Team All-State, Illinois Basketball Coaches Association All-State, Mississippi First Team All-Conference and SICA All-South Team.  She averaged 20.1points, seven rebounds, five assists and five steals per game.
 
First Win in 2021-22
SEMO captured its first victory of the 2021-22 campaign, 68-45, over the University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy (UHSP in St. Louis) (1-3) Nov. 9 at the Show Me Center.
 
Three Redhawks finished in double-figures including a team-high 14 points and four rebounds from Roshala Scott. Freshman Kennedi Watkins chipped in 13 points and seven rebounds in her first career start. Deanay Watson also finished with a career-best tying 12 points and five boards.
 
Shymaryia Christopher and Jaliyah Green also both made their first career collegiate starts in the victory. Christopher finished with eight points while Green had five. Halle Smith, Johné Stewart and Kori Tomlin also made their Redhawk debuts. Tomlin led all SEMO players with 25 minutes. Taelour Pruitt dished out a career-best matching seven assists to accompany eight points.
 
Exhibition Recap
SEMO defeated William Woods, 66-49, in exhibition play Nov. 1 at the Show Me Center.
 
Freshman Jaliyah Green led the Redhawks with 16 points to go with five rebounds and Deanay Watson chipped in 13 points hauling down eight rebounds. Roshala Scott added nine points and Shymaryia Christopher finished with seven.
  
OVC Preseason Poll
Southeast Missouri was selected to finish sixth in the Ohio Valley Conference in 2021-22. The Redhawks received 91 points in the projected order of finish.
 
Belmont, the 2020-21 OVC Tournament Champions, was selected to finish first with 15 first place votes and 159 total points in the preseason poll. Destinee Wells, the 2020-21 OVC Tournament MVP and Freshman of the Year from Belmont, was tabbed the 2021-22 OVC Preseason Player of the Year.
 
Team Makeup
The Redhawks return four starters from its 2020-21 team in seniors Taelour Pruitt and Deanay Watson along with juniors Roshala Scott and Sophie Bussard.
 
Scott was third on SEMO this past season with 10.2 points per game (265 points) and ranked fifth in the OVC in 2020-21 with 3.4 assists per game. Pruitt averaged just under 10 points (9.9, 159 points) per game in 2020-21. Bussard netted 8.8 points per contest (230 points) and paced the OVC with 931:15 minutes of court time, averaging 35.82 minutes per game.
 
Sophomores Michaela Mayfield, Chandler Davis and Shymaryia Christopher round out the returnees this season. Mayfield was the lone freshman from that group to play this previous year and saw time at forward.

The Redhawks also added eight newcomers in three transfers, four freshmen and a sophomore.
 
Johné Stewart brings NCAA Division I experience to the team while Kori Tomlin transferred in from Moberly Area Community College.
 
Freshmen Kennedi Watkins, Halle Smith, Jaliyah Green and Diona Reed complete the 2021-22 squad.
 
2021-22 Schedule
The Redhawks will play a 30-game schedule with 16 matchups at the Show Me Center during the 2021-22 season.
 
Southeast Missouri will play 11 non-conference games to commence the season.
 
The Redhawks 2021-22 schedule also includes 18 Ohio Valley Conference matchups, playing each conference institution twice. SEMO will open league play at Murray State after Christmas break on Dec. 30. The Redhawks then host Austin Peay on Jan. 1 to ring in 2022.
 
2020-21 Season Recap
SEMO finished with an overall record of 15-11 and posted a 13-7 conference mark in 2020-21. The Redhawks qualified for their sixth-straight OVC Tournament as the #3 seed this past season.
 
2020-21 All-OVC performers LaTrese Saine, the 2020-21 OVC Defensive Player of the Year, and Tesia Thompson graduated this past May.
 
Looking Ahead
SEMO next heads to the Music City to face Belmont and Tennessee State, Jan. 6 and 8 in Nashville, Tennessee.