Jan. 10, 2002

Box Score

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo.- The Eastern Kentucky Lady Colonels showed up at the Show Me Center on Thursday night and showed why they are the number one team in the Ohio Valley Conference right now. EKU shot a high percentage, rebounded well, and recorded 18 steals, four above their league leading average of 14 per game. All of that accounted for a 94-67 loss for the Otahkians, the second worst loss every at the Show Me Center.

Veronica Benson would score the games for basket for Southeast (8-5 overall, 1-2 OVC) but it was all Eastern (11-3, 3-0) after that. EKU built a seven-point lead before the first media timeout, extended it to 10 points at the third media timeout and led by 15 with 2:55 to play in the first half. EKU went into halftime with a 47-35 advantage. It could have been a lot worse for Southeast if not for 14 points from junior forward Lori Chase.

The second half saw more of the same the Lady Colonels used a 12-3 run to open the half and never looked back. The advantage would reach as many as 29 with 40 seconds left before falling to 27, which was the final margin.

A bright spot for the Otahkians was the play of freshman forward Andrea Koeper. Koeper had already raeched a career-high in rebounded at the half when she had six, and finished the game with career highs in points (9), rebounds (10), field goals made (4), field goals attempted (9) and tied her career-high with one steal.

"Koeper did a good job for us tonight," Coach Ed Arnzen said following the game. "She played with enthusiasm and it looked like she was having a good time out there and relaxing. Lori was also ready to go and Pam to some extent, but as a team we really did not come out to play in the very beginning. And you can't do that with a good team like Eastern. We have to learn from what happened tonight and move on."

The 95 points were the most by a Southeast opponent since Austin Peay scored 95 on February 5, 2000 in Clarksville. It was the most points allowed at home since allowing Mizzou to score 103 on December 2, 1996. That Mizzou game also marks the worst loss in Show Me Center history. Southeast will face Morehead State on Saturday night at 5:30 p.m.

Game Notes: Lori Chase reached the 20-point plateau for the fourth time this season but the first time since scoring 21 against Lipscomb back on November 27 ... Chase attempted 6 three-pointers on the night, a career-high ... EKU posted Southeast season opponent highs of first half points (47), total points (94), field goals made (37), field goals attempted (75) and steals (18) ... Southeast is now 0-4 when trailing at the half this season.