Game #20 | OVC #9
Southeast Missouri (4-15, 0-8 OVC)
vs. Morehead State (1-16, 0-7 OVC)
Game Information
Date: Thursday, Jan. 27, 2021
Tip-off: 5 p.m., CT 
Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo.          
Arena: Show Me Center
Series: SEMO leads Morehead State, 25-22
Last Meeting: 61-52 SEMO Win | Feb. 20, 2021 | Show Me Center | Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Head Coaches: Rekha Patterson (99-99, Seventh Season); Cayla Petree (1-16, First Season at Morehead State, 24-47, Three Career Seasons)
Video: ESPN+
Radio: SEMOESPN (Erik Sean)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Tickets

Game #21 | OVC #10
Southeast Missouri (5-15, 1-8 OVC)
vs. SIUE (8-11, 4-4 OVC)
Game Information
Date: Saturday, Jan. 29, 2021
Tip-off: 2 p.m., CT 
Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo.          
Arena: Show Me Center
Series: SEMO leads SIUE, 29-20, 0-1 in 2021-22
Last Meeting: 73-66 SIUE Win | Jan. 15, 2022 | First Community Arena | Edwardsville, Ill.  
Head Coaches: Rekha Patterson (99-99, Seventh Season); Samantha Quigley Smith (7-11, First Season at SIUE, 191-107, 10 Career Seasons)
Video: ESPN+ 
Radio: SEMOESPN (Erik Sean)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Tickets

Follow the Redhawks
Twitter: @OfficialSEMOWBB
Media Guide: Southeast Missouri
Game Notes: SEMO vs. Morehead State | SEMO vs. SIUE
Morehead State | SIUE 
 
Redhawks Host Morehead State and SIUE Thursday and Saturday to Conclude January
Southeast Missouri women's basketball (4-15, 0-8 OVC) will host Morehead State (1-16, 0-7 OVC) and SIUE (7-11, 3-4 OVC) this week at the Show Me Center. SEMO takes on Morehead State Thursday at 5 p.m., CT before the men's nationally televised matchup with the Eagles on ESPNU. The Redhawks conclude their week Saturday against SIUE with tip set for 2 p.m.

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 
Morehead State
SEMO leads the all-time series with Morehead State, 25-22. The Redhawks and the Eagles split the 2020-21 series with each team winning in their respective building.
 
Three Redhawks finished in double-figures scoring as SEMO secured a 61-52 victory over Morehead State Feb. 20, 2021 on Senior Day at the Show Me Center. Taelour Pruitt paced SEMO with 17 points and three assists, finishing 6-for-16 from the field and 4-for-4 at the charity stripe. Terri Smith chipped in 12 points on a 4-for-11 day and 3-for-3 on free throws. Sophie Bussard added 11 points, shooting 4-for-10. Pruitt, Smith and Bussard each tallied four steals as SEMO finished with a season-best 17 and converted 26 points off Eagles turnovers.
 
The Eagles won the initial 2020-21 meeting, 58-57, in Morehead, Kentucky, on Jan. 21, 2021. LaTrese Saine nearly registered a triple-double outing finishing with a career-best 19 points to accompany 14 rebounds and nine blocks. She was 7-for-17 from the field and 2-for-3 behind the arc in 38 minutes of court time after a 12-point first half.
 
SIUE
SEMO leads SIUE, 29-20, in the all-time series but the Cougars took the initial 2021-22 matchup, 73-66, Jan. 15, 2022 in Edwardsville, Illinois.
 
Taelour Pruitt paved the way for SEMO with 20 points, her second 20-point effort this season. Kennedi Watkins matched a personal-high 14 points and grabbed a team-high six rebounds off the bench, while Deanay Watson contributed 17 points. SEMO led a 12-point lead get away.
 
The Redhawks won both meetings during the 2020-21 season and had previously won the prior seven before the Jan. 15, 2022 game in Edwardsville, Illinois.

Scouting the Opponents
Morehead State
The Eagles are 1-16 and winless (0-7) in OVC play in 2021-22. Morehead State most recently lost to UT Martin, 64-50, on Monday and dropped decisions to SIUE (77-52, Jan. 22) and Belmont (103-50, Jan. 20) this past week.
 
Jada Claude was awarded OVC Newcomer of the Week for the second time this season on Tuesday. She's averaging 7.3 rebounds per game, which is the most among newcomers in the OVC and third overall in the conference. Claude posted her fifth double-double of the season last game against UT Martin, which gives her the second most individual double-doubles in the OVC this season. She is second in the conference in blocked shots per game (1.1) during OVC play.
 
Head coach Cayla Petree joined the Morehead State program after spending last season at Gulf Coast State College.
 
Familiar Face on the Eagles
Thursday will mark Terri Smith's first outing against her former team. Smith averaged 6.2 points with 2.0 rebounds in 27.5 minutes last season with the Redhawks. She started the final 17 games of the season and appeared in 26. Smith had eight double-digit games including the last four to conclude the 2020-21 campaign.

SIUE
The Cougars are 7-11 in 2021-22 with a 3-4 mark in conference play. SIUE most recently lost to Murray State, 84-82, in Edwardsville, Illinois, on Monday Last week SIUE split on the road at Tennessee Tech (75-60 Loss, Jan. 20) and at Morehead State (77-52 Win, Jan. 22). SIUE's 25-point win over Morehead State was the Cougars largest margin of victory this season.

SIUE hosts Tennessee State Thursday before heading to Cape Girardeau.
 
SIUE has picked up wins over teams from the Big Ten and the Big East as they have defeated Illinois and Butler in non-conference play.
 
Samantha Quigley Smith became the sixth head coach in program history after spending the last four seasons as the head coach at Lewis University.
 
Morehead State Recap
 Four Redhawks finished in double-digits scoring as Southeast Missouri women's basketball (5-15, 1-8 OVC) registered its first Ohio Valley Conference victory of the 2021-22 season, 60-53, over Morehead State (1-17, 0-8 OVC) Thursday evening at the Show Me Center.
 
The win marked head coach Rekha Patterson's 100th career victory at the helm of the SEMO program and also snapped a nine-game losing streak for the Redhawks.
 
Taelour Pruitt paced SEMO with 15 points while Deanay Watsonand Kennedi Watkins, the reigning OVC Freshman of the Week, each had 12 points. Watson finished with a double-double, adding 10 boards while Watkins pulled down nine rebounds.

Roshala Scott chipped in 10 points and seven rebounds in her first start back from injury since Jan. 6 at Belmont.
 
Pruitt then went 2-for-2 at the charity stripe to conclude the game and keep the Eagles at bay.
 
Pruitt, Watkins and Scott each had four steals as the Redhawks totaled a season high 17. SEMO cashed in 26 points off Morehead State turnovers Thursday.

Pruitt shot 5-for-11 and 4-for-4 on free throws with two assists.
 
Watson appeared in a game-high 38 minutes, going 5-for-14 from the field. The double-double was the fourth in her career and her second straight game with the feat.
 
Watkins finished 5-for-13 shooting for her fifth-straight double-digit game.

Watkins Named OVC Co-Freshman of the Week
Kennedi Watkins was awarded Ohio Valley Conference Co-Freshman of the Week honors, the league announced Tuesday. Watkins led the Redhawks this past week with 26 points (13ppg) and 20 rebounds (10rpg) in their pair of contests against Tennessee State (Jan. 20) and at Eastern Illinois (Jan. 22).
 
Watkins almost had a double-double of 13 points and nine rebounds against Tennessee State. The Ballwin, Missouri, forward made her first start since Nov. 30, 2021 and appeared in a personal-high 32 minutes against TSU. From the field, Watkins shot 4-for-14.
 
Watkins then registered her first career double-double Jan. 22 at Eastern Illinois, finishing with 13 points to go along with a personal high 11 rebounds and five steals. She shot 3-for-8 from the field and was 7-for-10 at the charity stripe in 32 minutes of court time with two assists.

About Last Week
SEMO dropped its pair of games this past week against Tennessee State on Jan. 20 and at Eastern Illinois on Jan. 22.
 
Kennedi Watkins and Deanay Watson each notched double-double outings as SEMO dropped a 68-44 road contest to Eastern Illinois Jan. 22 at Lantz Arena. Watkins registered her first career double-double, finishing with 13 points with a personal high 11 rebounds and five steals. She shot 3-for-8 from the field and was 7-for-10 at the charity stripe in 32 minutes of court time. Watson added 10 points and 10 boards, coming off the bench, for her third career double-double. She shot 4-for-9 on field goals. SEMO's 44 points are its lowest point total this season.

Halle Smith registered a game-high 14 points and Kennedi Watkins almost had a double-double of 13 points and a career-best nine rebounds as SEMO fell to Tennessee State, 68-53, Jan. 20 at the Show Me Center. Watkins shot 4-for-14 from the field. Smith finished 50 percent shooting and notched a personal-best three blocks. Michaela Mayfield tallied a career best nine points, going a personal-best 7-for-8 at the charity stripe. Jaliyah Green finished with eight points and five rebounds in a career-high 36 minutes. Taelour Pruitt passed out a team-high three assists with five points and a career-high six steals. SEMO notched a season-best 16 steals.
 
Watkins is Wat's Up With That
Kennedi Watkins led the Redhawks this past week with 26 points (13ppg) and 20 rebounds (10rpg) in their pair of contests against Tennessee State (Jan. 20) and at Eastern Illinois (Jan. 22).
 
She has started in the last two games for the Redhawks and has notched double-digits scoring in each of the last four games. In the last four games, Watkins is averaging 12.5 points and 7.25 rebounds in 27 minutes of court time.
 
Watkins has registered 13 points in each of the last two games. She registered her first career double-double Jan. 22 at Eastern Illinois, finishing with 13 points to go along with a personal high 11 rebounds and five steals.
 
Watkins has notched a career-best 14 points twice at SIUE (Jan. 15) and against Mississippi Valley State (Nov. 26, 2021).
 
Watkins has played in 15 games and started in the first seven games of the 2021-22 season. In 2021-22, Watkins has started nine games. She is averaging 7.6 points, and 5.2 rebounds in 21.8 minutes.
 
She ranks third in OVC games with 2.8 offensive rebounds (22).
 
Smith in the Starting 5
Halle Smith, a freshman forward from Belle, Missouri, has started in the 10 of the last 11 contests for the Redhawks.
 
Smith most recently had 14 points and five rebounds to lead SEMO against Tennessee State on Jan. 20. She finished 50 percent shooting and notched a personal-best three blocks. Smith concluded the week with six points and four rebounds at Eastern Illinois on Jan. 22.
 
Smith registered a career-best 18 points Dec. 5 in the Redhawks win over Harris-Stowe State. Smith added 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 19 games in 2021-22 and is averaging 7.7 points and 4.6 boards in 22.5 minutes. She is shooting 50 percent from the field and 40 percent from beyond the arc.
 
Good Show, Watson
Deanay Watson tallied her second double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 boards on Jan. 22 at Eastern Illinois. Watson came off the bench for the first time in 2021-22 and shot 4-for-9 on field goals for her third career double-double.
 
Watson, a senior from Bradenton, Florida, has started in all but one game (18 starts in 19 games) for the Redhawks in 2021-22. She has posted double-figure points in 13 games. Watson is averaging 10.7 points per game with 5.4 boards in 28.6 minutes. Watson is shooting 55 percent from the field and has registered 10 or more points in nine of the last 12 games.
 
In OVC play, Watson is averaging 12.3 points (15th) with 5.1 rebounds (14th) in 30.1 minutes (17th). She is 10th for field goal percentage with .513 (40-78) and sixth for offensive rebounding (19, 2.4/game).

Our Favorite Color Besides Red is Jaliyah Green
Jaliyah Green registered a career-best 17 points this past week for the Redhawks against Tennessee State (Jan. 20) and at Eastern Illinois (Jan. 22).
 
Green finished with eight points and five rebounds in a career-high 36 minutes against TSU. She added nine points with a personal high eight rebounds and three boards at EIU. Green was 3-for-4 on free throws in the Saturday matchup in Charleston, Illinois.
 
Green has played in 15 games with 13 starts. She has started in the last six games after opening the 2021-22 campaign with seven starts before injury. She is averaging 7.6 points, 1.6 assists, and 3.7 rebounds in 25.6 minutes.
 
Let's Go, Dream!!
Michaela Mayfield tallied a career best nine points, going a personal-best 7-for-8 at the charity stripe against Tennessee State on Jan. 20. Mayfield also finished with two boards, two assists and a steal in 16 minutes of court time.
 
Mayfield, a sophomore from Gurdon, Arkansas, has played in all 19 games in 2021-22 for the Redhawks. She is averaging 2.3 points with 2.8 rebounds in 11.2 minutes of action.

Stewart in the Starting Lineup
Johné Stewart has started in two of the last four games for the Redhawks.  Stewart most recently started at Eastern Illinois on Jan. 22.
 
She made her first career start as a Redhawk on Jan. 13 against Tennessee Tech. Stewart finished with three points and three rebounds in 14 minutes of court time. She closed the week with a career-best 33 minutes at SIUE on Jan. 15.
 
Stewart, a transfer from Jacksonville, has played in 14 games this season. She is averaging 15.6 minutes of court time and 2.3 rebounds.
       
Cracking the Top-10 All-Time
Taelour Pruitt ranks ninth overall in SEMO program history for career 3-pointers (100). She also is 11th for assists (273) and steals (142) and will look to break into the top-10 this season for both categories.
 
Pruitt most recently surpassed 700 career points (780) in the win over Purdue Fort Wayne on Dec. 9, 2021. The senior from Crowley, Texas, has appeared in 95 career games with the Redhawks.
 
She ranks sixth in OVC only play with 3.8 assists (30), seventh for steals (2.1spg, 17) and has an assist-turnover margin of 0.9 (11th). Overall in 2021-22, Pruitt is third for three-pointers attempted (99), sixth for assists (3.3apg) and seventh for steals (1.84spg, 35 steals).
     
Where We Rank in the OVC
SEMO ranks second as a team in the conference with 681 rebounds (36.4rpg). Deanay Watson leads the Redhawks with 103 (5.4rpg) followed by Halle Smith (88, 4.6rpg). Kennedi Watkins is averaging 5.2 (78) and Jaliyah Green has 55 (3.7rpg).
 
The Redhawks are also third for rebounds per game with 35.84. SEMO is fourth for blocked shots (53), free throw attempts (296), and steals (160). The Redhawks are also fifth for blocked shots per game (2.8) and steals per game (8.4).
  
In OVC only play, SEMO is second for offensive rebounds (12.6, 101) and fourth for three-point field goal defense (.295).
 
Redhawks Add Mid-Year Transfer Forward Julia Sion
SEMO head coach Rekha Patterson announced Jan. 10 the addition of mid-year transfer Julia Sion for the 2021-22 season. Sion, a 6-2 junior forward, will join the Redhawks this season after transferring from North Alabama. She will have two years of eligibility remaining and is not eligible this season after playing at UNA in 2021-22.

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 99-99.
 
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).

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.
      
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 played 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.
 
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 UT Martin on Thursday, Feb. 3 before hosting Eastern Illinois on Saturday, Feb. 5. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m., CT in the Thursday road matchup in Martin, Tennessee. SEMO's home contest with EIU is scheduled for 2 p.m.