Redhawks open OVC schedule without one of their top players

~ Whitney will miss at least tonight's game at the Show Me Center.

Most people probably don't expect the Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team to have trouble with Tennessee State today.

That's understandable, since the Tigers have finished last in the Ohio Valley Conference the past two seasons, going a combined 4-36 in league play.

But Southeast coach John Ishee said he is plenty worried about the Tigers, who come to the Show Me Center for a 5 p.m. tipoff in the OVC opener for both teams.

"I think Tennessee State is really athletic, and they're a lot better overall than they've been," Ishee said. "I don't expect an easy game at all."

While two-time defending OVC champion Southeast is 4-4 -- the Redhawks have lost four straight -- Tennessee State has a 2-5 record.

The Tigers went winless two seasons ago, but improved considerably last year, going 7-22 and 4-16 in OVC play.

With all five starters returning, Ishee expects the Tigers to keep making strides.

Ishee is particularly concerned about 5-foot-7 junior guard Kendra Appling, the OVC's No. 2 scorer at 18.4 points per game, and 5-9 junior forward Obiageli Okafor, who adds 14.4 points and 7.6 rebounds. She leads the OVC in offensive rebounding.

Appling is third in the OVC in 3-point shooting at 55.6 percent (15-of-27), as the Tigers lead the league in that department at 41.2 percent.

"Those are two very dangerous players, and they've got other talent around them," Ishee said.

Tennessee State is outrebounding its opponents by nearly three per game, while Southeast is being outrebounded by more than eight a contest.

"I'm really concerned because their strength is rebounding and that's one of the areas we have to shore up," Ishee said.

Southeast will play its first game without senior center Missy Whitney, the OVC preseason player of the year who suffered a foot injury Sunday at Purdue.

Ishee said Whitney will almost certainly also miss Saturday's home contest with Tennessee Tech. The Redhawks then don't play again until Dec. 18, which Ishee hopes will give Whitney time to recover.

Without Whitney, Ishee said Southeast will probably start a smaller lineup tonight, with the only true inside player being junior forward Rachel Blunt.

Junior wing Sonya Daugherty, Southeast's leading scorer with a 15.1 average -- ahead of Whitney's 12.5 -- will open along with junior point guard Tarina Nixon, senior guard Ashley Lovelady and freshman wing Lauren Sharpe.

Sharpe made her first collegiate start at Purdue and scored a career-high eight points while having just one turnover in 34 minutes.

"I thought she played great," Ishee said.

Without the inside presence of Whitney -- who leads Southeast in rebounding at six per game -- Ishee said other players will have to pick up the slack.

That includes 6-1 sophomore Kaitlyn Peddie, the squad's tallest player besides the 6-2 Whitney. Peddie grabbed six of her season total 16 rebounds against Purdue.

Whitney's absence probably will also create more playing time for 5-10 junior Crysta Glenn.

"Others will have to pick up the slack inside," Ishee said.