Oct. 13, 2006

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri State women's basketball begins preparation for upcoming the 2006-07 season this Friday night at 7 p.m., the first official day of NCAA-mandated team practices. Southeast head coach B.J. Smith welcomes back six returning players, including three letterwinners from last season's team that finished 22-9 record, its first-ever OVC championship and NCAA Tournament berth.

Among the returning players are senior center Lachelle Lyles (Chicago, Ill./Shelton State CC) and sophomore guard Tarina Nixon (Gilbert, Ariz./Highland). Lyles was among the top rebounders in the Ohio Valley Conference and earned OVC All-Tournament team accolades, while Nixon started 27 games in her first NCAA campaign and is the team's leading returning scorer with a 5.6 point-per-game average.

Junior college transfers Ashley Lovelady (Elkhart, Ind./Moberly Area CC) and Missy Whitney (Charleston, Mo./Three Rivers CC) are two of the five newcomers joining the Redhawks this season.

Southeast opens competitive play at the Show Me Center on Nov. 3 with an exhibition contest against Lambuth University.