Jan. 10, 2004

Box Score

Cape Girardeau, Mo. - Southeast (6-7, 1-1 OVC) dominated Tennessee Tech (5-7, 1-1 OVC) throughout the game until a buzzer beating three by Tech's Emily Christian sent the game to overtime. But the Otahkians proved strong in overtime, posting a 102-to-90 decision over TTU. Senior Kenja White started it all off for the Otahkians scoring the squad's first seven points, as she went on to lead the squad with a new career best, 29 points. White also topped her career best in field goals made in a game, making 12-of-16 from the floor on the night.

The Otahkians took an early 3-0 lead courtesy of White, extending their lead to as much as 12 on four occasions during the first half as they headed to the lockers up 49-39. The Otahkians shot amazing well in the first half, as the squad has struggled from the floor all season.

As a team the squad shot 65.5 percent from the field, compared to Tech's 40 percent. After scoring only 19 points two days ago in the first half against Austin Peay, Southeast already had three players scoring in double-digits at the half. White had 16, Cotton had 11, and added another 10.

Coming out of the lockers the Otahkians upped their tempo as they extended their lead to seventeen, 77-60, with 9:05 left to go. But little by little the Lady Eaglettes chipped away at the lead as the Otahkians found themselves up by only two with 14 ticks on the clock. Then the Eaglettes stole the ball on and inbounds play, but were about to lose possession, calling a hasty time out. Tech was out of time outs so they were charged with the technical foul and Southeast sent Costello to the line. Costello made 1-of-2 to increase the lead to three, but at the buzzer Tech's Christian lit up for a three several feet from beyond the arc and nailed it to force overtime. Southeast led the entire game until Christian tied it up as the last seconds ticked away.

That shot was too close for comfort for the Otahkians as they came out in overtime to close the deal. Southeast controlled the entire five minutes of overtime as they out scored the Lady Eaglettes 15-3. The squad shot 80 percent from the floor in overtime, while their strong defensive efforts held Tech to only 11 percent.

After going through a shooting drought and shooting a combined 35.9 percent from the floor so far this season, the squad came together to shot 64.8 percent on the night. Leading all scorers on the night was Lady Eaglette, Emily Christian, with 35 points. For the Otahkians, White earned Copi-Rite player of the game honors as she helped guide the team to the fourth highest scoring performance in school history. To this date, the most a Southeast squad has made in a single game is 106 points. Also recording new career-highs in scoring for the Otahkians were guards Cotton and Costello. Cotton pumped in 22 points, while Costello posted 21.

The Otahkians will have two days of rest before they face Eastern Illinois this coming Tues., Jan. 13, in Charleston, Ill at 5:15 p.m. Eastern Illinois has suffered losses to the Otahkians last two opponents, Austin Peay and Tennessee Tech, as they moved to 0-2 in the OVC this afternoon falling 54-47 to the Lady Govs.