Jan. 5, 2002

Box Score

CHARLESTON, Ill. - The Ohio Valley Conference opener for Southeast Missouri and Eastern Illinois proved to be an exciting game with the teams fighting back and forth the entire way and the lead changing hands 10 times in the second half. Southeast Missouri (8-3 overall, 1-0 OVC) just had a little too much for the Panthers (1-11, 0-1) and hung on in the end to pull out the 77-68 victory.

Senior guard Veronica Benson proved to be the game's hero, scoring 16 of her 22 points, which matched her career-high, in the second half and hitting several big baskets, including converting a old-fashioned three-point play with 53 seconds left that gave Southeast the lead for good. Benson was 8-12 from the field and 6-7 from the free-throw line while dishing out three assists and making four steals.

The Otahkians started quickly posting a six-point lead five minutes into the game on a Lori Chase layup. EIU would battle back behind a monster first-half from sophomore sensation Pam O'Connor to lead by four points at the 8:52 mark before Southeast would once again take the advantage. But O'Connor battled EIU back and her turnaround in the lane with five seconds remaining in the half tied the score at 31 apiece. It was the first time this season Southeast had been tied at the break.

O'Connor was 7-9 from the field for 16 points in the opening frame. EIU, despite committing 17 turnovers, was able to hang tight behind 22 total first-half rebounds, including eight offensive boards.

While O'Connor controlled the first half for EIU, it was sophomore guard Lauren Dailey who led the second-half charege. She scored 18 second-half points including knocking down three, three-pointers to help keep EIU close. As a team EIU hit its first six three-pointers on the half to battle the Otahks tight throughout.

But Southeast was not to be denied. Everytime the Panthers hit a big shot, the Otahkians countered on the other end. Southeast would led most of the second-half with EIU only gaining a one-point advantage on two early occassions.

A Dailey three-pointer put EIU on top 64-63 with 4:20 to play in the game. Southeast answered back with a Pam Iversen bucket to pull back in front. Southeast held the lead until Dailey hit two free-throws with 1:00 to play to put EIU on top for the last time.

Instead of folding, Southeast rode Benson to the victory. Benson made a great move in the lane and drew the foul and converted the free-throw to put Southeast back on top for good. LaShelle Porter would hit 5-6 free-throws over the next 50 seconds to help secure the game for Southeast. Porter, who hits only about 55% from the line on the season, hits over 75% in the game's last two minutes.

Benson led all scorers with 22. Porter posted her second consecutive outstanding game, scoring 16, grabbing five boards, dishing out three assists and making four steals. Iversen scored 14, her fourth consecutive game in double figures, and Lori Chase added 11 to get back into double figures for the 26th time in the last 30 games.

"I knew if it got close at the end that we would win," Coach Ed Arnzen said. "That's what I told the girls before the game. We covered O'Connor better in the second half and our guards only got better in the second half. Veronica put us on her shoulders tonight and carried us home."

"If its needed then I'll carry the team," Benson said. "After a slow start I knew I had to step it up in the second half and I was just trying to get to the hole and make some things happen."

EIU was led by 20 by each O'Connor and Dailey. Michelle Lewis, who connected on four, three-pointers, scored 12.

Southeast shot 50.8% from the field for the game, while EIU shot 45.6% Although EIU held a large rebounding advantage in the first half, Southeast outrebounded EIU by nine in the second frame to close the final gap. EIU committed 26 turnovers, a season-high for an Otahkian opponent.

Southeast will be back in action on Tuesday when they face OVC preseason favorite Tennessee Tech at 7:00 p.m. Last season, Tech won on a last second shot in a very tight game.

Game Notes: Southeast won for the fourth time in a row at Lantz Arena in Charleston and has won 6 of the last 7 games in the series ... Southeast is now 8-0 when scoring 70-plus points in a game this season ... Coach Ed Arnzen won his 75th OVC game in his career ... Tiffany Melis knocked down two, three-pointers to push her career total to 51, becoming just the 7th Otahkian to hit 50, three-pointers in a career ... the nine-point victory was the closest margin of victory for Southeast in eight victories this season ... Southeast improved to 4-1 on Saturdays this season ... Southeast is 8-0 when leading with 5:00 to play in games this year.