Southeast women top UMSL in opener

~ The Redhawks christened their season with a 66-53 victory

There were still plenty of rough spots, which Southeast Missouri State women's basketball coach John Ishee expected.

But Ishee came away satisfied with the Redhawks' season opener.

Despite committing 29 turnovers, the young, inexperienced Redhawks eased past Division II Missouri-St. Louis 66-53 Friday night at the Show Me Center.

That came four days after Southeast was drubbed by another Division II team, Christian Brothers, by 16 points in its lone exhibition game.

Redhawks junior Lauren Sharpe (33) drives to the basket as UMSL's Kelly Carter defends Friday, November 13, 2009, at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. (Kit Doyle)

"No question we were a lot better," said Ishee, whose 13-player roster features nine freshmen and just one senior. "I was extremely pleased. I thought our team defense was a lot better.

"All in all, it was a big step forward for us."

Southeast players agreed.

"We definitely improved," freshman forward Bailie Roberts said. "We had a good three days of practice, and we really improved our team defense."

Southeast held UMSL, which went 7-21 last year, to 35.1-percent shooting and just 4 of 19 from 3-point range (21.1 percent). The Redhawks also forced 31 turnovers.

Southeast freshman Jasmine Davis drives to the basket past UMSL's Caitlyn Moody on Friday at the Show Me Center.

"Our team defense was a lot better," freshman guard Jasmine Davis said. "We really worked on that [in practice]."

Southeast's three double-figure scorers were freshmen.

Davis, one of Friday's starters, led the way with 13 points. She used her quickness to drive for several tough layups in traffic and also hit all five of her free-throw attempts.

"Getting the first win is nice," Davis said. "We're learning each other, who can do what and where to go."

Roberts, Southeast's other freshman starter, had a solid all-around performance with 12 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals. She hit 4 of 4 free throws.

Freshman Brittany Harriel gets on the floor for a loose ball Friday, November 13, 2009, against UMSL at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. The play resulted in a jump ball. (Kit Doyle)

"It's exciting, all of us freshmen playing together," Roberts said. "It gets us even more pumped up for the future."

Freshman wing Katie Norman scored 10 points, eight coming in the second half. She hit 4 of 5 field goals, including both of her 3-point attempts.

Another freshman, forward Brittany Harriel, scored eight points and led Southeast in rebounding with eight. She added three steals and two assists. Harriel had seven first-half points.

"Those four all had good games for us," Ishee said.

Two of Southeast's four returning players also turned in solid performances.

Redhawks junior Lauren Sharpe drives to the basket during Friday's game against UMSL at the Show Me Center. (Kit Doyle)

Junior wing Lauren Sharpe scored all eight of her points in the first half. She added three steals and two assists.

Sophomore point guard Bianca Beck scored all eight of her points in the second half and tied Roberts for team-high assist honors with four. Beck hit 5 of 6 free throws.

Beck scored seven straight points during a 12-0 run early in the final period that put Southeast up 45-28. UMSL got no closer than 11 points.

There were nine lead changes and three ties in the first 13 minutes before Southeast finally began to take control.

The Redhawks led 33-25 at halftime, then broke things open early in the second half and led by as many as 21 points.

"We still have a lot to improve on, but it's nice to win," Roberts said.

Southeast shot 44.9 percent, including 40 percent from 3-point range (6 of 15). The Redhawks were strong from the line at 80 percent (16 of 20).

The teams combined for 49 fouls, which led to a combined 52 free-throw attempts.

"We'll take it," Ishee said of the victory.

Things will get much tougher for Southeast in its next game as Southern Mississippi visits the Show Me Center Monday night.

The Eagles are coming off a 20-12 season that saw them go 11-5 in Conference USA. They rolled past Southeast 64-47 last year in Hattiesburg, Miss.

"They'll be a major challenge for us," said Ishee, a Southern Miss graduate who was an assistant with the Eagles from 1991 through 1994.