Box Score

Cape Girardeau, Mo. (January 4, 2003) - Behind 23 points and five rebounds from junior guard Kenja White, as well as double-figures from three other Otahkians, Southeast Missouri tonight defeated the Panthers of Eastern Illinois, 74-59 to open up Ohio Valley Conference play. Southeast moves its overall record to 7-4, 1-0 OVC, and Eastern moves to 1-10, 0-1 OVC.

Southeast opened up the scoring on a three-pointer by senior forward Lori Chase. The game was tied five times in the half, before at the 2:35 mark, the Otahks took the lead on a jumper from sophomore forward Miah Shelford put Southeast up 28-27, and the Otahks didn't look back. They took a ten-point lead at the half, 37-27.

It was more of the same in the second half. Eastern Illinois started the second half on a 12-7 run to cut the Southeast lead to five, but that was as close as the Panthers got. The two teams traded baskets as the Southeast lead got as high as eight four times, but a free-throw from junior forward Carina Souza started a 19-10 run to end the game.

Southeast shot 40 percent in the first half, and 39 percent in the second half for a game total of 39 percent. Eastern Illinois shot better in the second half and the game as they nailed 42 percent of their shots.

The Otahks hit 20-24 from the free-throw line and 6-19 from behind the arc. They forced 23 Panther turnovers on eight steals. They out-rebounded Eastern 41-31.

White led the Otahks on the night. She had 23 points and five rebounds as she hit 8-16 from the field and a perfect 6-6 from the line. She had a game-high two blocks. Chase and Souza both had 11 points as Souza was 4-8 from the field. Shelford had 10 points and a game-high nine rebounds on the night. Freshman guard Tiffanne Ryan, in her third start of the season, went 2-3 from the field on two three pointers for six points. She had a team-high two steals.

Southeast now has a few days off before they leave again, traveling to Morehead State on the 11th, and Eastern Kentucky on the 13th. They then come home on the 18th to host rival Murray State.