With college basketball just a few weeks away, SEMO head coach Rekha Patterson and her team are preparing for another season. Last year, the Redhawks finished 16-15, but look to improve, returning four of five starters.

They are joined by two transfers: senior guard Megan Barton and junior forward Abbigail Stephens, as well as incoming freshmen: guard Deajah Richmond, guard Indiya Bowen, and forward Amiyah Buchanan.

One of the returning starters is junior guard Jaliyah Green, a pre-season All-OVC first team selection. Green played in all 31 games last year and started in 20. She led the Redhawks in scoring, averaging 10.5 points per game and was named to first team all-OVC as a sophomore.

Green said she is looking forward to playing again this season.

“It’s exciting to see where everybody’s at, and I’m excited to grow as a player and grow with the team,” Green said.

Sophomore guard Alecia Doyle believes that the team’s chemistry is at a good point and will be a key to the season on the defensive side of the ball.

“Our chemistry is really good this year. We’re all kind of on the same wavelength.” Doyle said.

Doyle won OVC Freshman of the Week once last year and finished the season second on the team, shooting 81% from the free throw line.

This is Coach Patterson’s eighth season as head coach. She has led the Redhawks to six-consecutive Ohio Valley Conference Tournament appearances in her time coaching the program, which go to the top eight teams in the conference.

“We’re putting a product on the floor that not only the program can be proud of, but also the students and our Cape community can be proud of,” Coach Patterson said.

The Redhawks will travel to Southern Illinois on Nov. 7th for the first game of the regular season.