Southeast Missouri State University student publication

Women's basketball looks forward to the 2018-19 season

Monday, March 19, 2018
Head coach Rekha Patterson talks to her players during a time out during the 2017-18 season.
Photo by Joshua Dodge

The Southeast women’s basketball team concluded their 2017-18 season with a 63-60 loss to UT Martin in the first round of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament on Feb. 28.

The team’s final record was 14-17 and 9-9 in conference play, finishing tied for sixth. The 14 wins were one more than a year ago, and the nine OVC wins were two better. Not only did the team get another OVC tournament appearance, but the Redhawks also have the reigning OVC Defensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year.

“I would say it was [a success] because we did reach our goal, we got to the OVC tournament,” OVC Freshman of the Year Tesia Thompson said. “We just have to keep pushing until we can get over that first game.”

Going into the season, the team was not sure of its identity. After losing redshirt junior guard Carrie Shepard to injury prior to the season, there was no telling where the scoring would come from—but players like junior guard Adrianna Murphy and forward Thompson helped provide identity.

“I thought we could be competitive because our focus was going to be on our defense and our rebounding,” Southeast coach Rekha Patterson said. “I had no idea who was going to lead us in scoring. But I knew we were going to play defense. Our practices were intense and uncomfortable. If you are comfortable, then you are not being challenged.”

Patterson said “each game was going to be a possession game,” which was proved accurate as the largest deficit the team had at the end of an OVC game was 11 points.

Part of that success on the defensive end was due to Murphy. With two years experience heading into the season, she knew what she needed to do for the team to succeed.

“Adrianna’s a competitor, and she works really, really hard,” Patterson said. “She works really hard and she’s really competitive. Being able to be named OVC Defensive Player of the Year, that’s pretty special at 5 foot 3.”

Murphy is part of the group of juniors that have made the OVC tournament the past three years, and hopes to continue that streak onto the next year, and even further.

“We want to get back to the tournament, and we definitely want a different outcome,” Murphy said. “I want to get past the first round, the second round, and I want to win that championship.”

Most players agreed their best basketball was played at the right time of the year, with the team’s chemistry improving as player bought into their roles.

There are four seniors leaving, but with only Deja Jones and Ashton Luttrull being starters, the team is in good shape moving forward. Nine players will return, including both Murphy and Thompson.

This season, Thompson averaged 12.8 points per game and 5.3 rebounds per game, while securing the OVC Freshman of the Year award. She was named the OVC Freshman of the Week three times. Murphy’s averages of 9.8 points per game, 2.8 steals, 5.4 assists and 5.2 rebounds proved herself as a leader on the team, and earned the OVC Defensive Player of the Year award.

Looking to the future, Patterson has big hopes for the team and what they will become.

“I think we’ve got a good bunch who want to get better,” Patterson said. “I’m expecting us to continue to build a championship program. We’re not there yet, but we are a work in progress, and I think we’re going in the right direction.”

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