A number of Redhawk student-athletes collected Ohio Valley Conference weekly honors this week for their outstanding performances.
Women’s basketball guard Tesia Thompson was named OVC Co-Player of the Week. A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Thompson posted 26 points and seven rebounds for SEMO last week. She recorded a season-high nine field goals made in 33 minutes of play.
For the week, Thompson shot 56.3 percent (9-of-16) from the field and 66.7 percent (8-of-12) at the free throw line. She also had a pair of assists and a block, helping to lead the Redhawks women’s basketball team to a 3-1 start to the season.
On the volleyball court, freshman libero Tara Beilsmith was named the OVC Co-Defensive Player and Newcomer of the Week. Beilsmith led the SEMO defense with 54 total digs (9.0 digs/set) as the Redhawks split its final regular-season matches this past week on the road, including a career-best 33 digs at SIUE. She also finished the week with eight assists and two service aces.
Beilsmith leads the conference with 561 digs (4.92 dig/set) this season.
The #2-seeded Redhawks are playing this week at the 2019 OVC Volleyball Tournament hosted by Jacksonville State University.
The red-hot SEMO football team collected OVC honors for the fifth-straight week, as linebacker Zach Hall was named Defensive Player of the Week and return man Shabari Davis was tabbed Specialist of the Week Sunday.
Hall finished with double-digit tackles for the third time in four games when he led SEMO with 12 against Eastern Illinois. Hall recorded nine solo stops and assisted on three others. He also had 1.5 tackles for loss, a sack and an interception.
Davis, who hails from Garden City, Georgia, swung the game in SEMO's favor when he returned a punt 46 yards for a touchdown against the Panthers. Davis' touchdown put SEMO ahead, 13-7, in the third quarter and the Redhawks never trailed again after that.
SEMO hosts rival Murray State with the OVC title on the line Saturday. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Houck Field.
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