Jan. 17, 2002

Box Score

MARTIN, Tenn.- For the second straight game, Southeast overcame a halftime defecit by using strong second half defense, this time upending Tennessee-Martin 64-59 on Thursday night. Two late LaShelle Porter free throws and a Veronica Benson steal and layup sealed the Otahkian victory, which pulled Southeast back to .500 in the OVC.

The exciting game saw 12 lead changes and four ties with both teams battling back and forth. Tennessee-Martin (3-12 overall, 1-3 OVC) gained an early 14-6 advantage thanks to four three-pointers, before Southeast (10-6, 3-3) used a 9-0 run to gain a one-point advantage with 10 minutes to play in the first half. SEMO would lead again at 24-23 but that would be their last advantage before the break. Martin built back up an eight point lead with 1:34 to play, similar to what Tennessee State did to Southeast on Monday. But Southeast baskets by Porter and Pam Iversen brought Southeast within four points, although a Kelly Pendleton leaner in the lane widened the Skyhawk advantage to six at the break.

UTM shot an impressive 53.8% in the first half, including 5-11 from three-point range. Southeast hung close thanks to 10 points from Iversen and eight from freshman Andrea Koeper.

The Skyhawks held their advantage until an impressive transition layup by 6'2 center Tisa Thomas tied the score at 43 with 12:47 to play. On the next possession a Porter steal and layup put Southeast up to stay at 45-43.

The Skyhawks would not go away and eventually pulled with four points at the 2:34 mark when a bad officiating call almost cost Southeast the game. With Southeast leading 59-55, UTM went to the line to shoot two free-throws on the 10th team foul by Southeast. T.J. Barker would miss the first free-throw which was rebounded by Martin's Amy Watson who attempted to play the ball instead of waiting for the second free-throw. Watson was then fouled by Southeast's Lori Chase, who committed her fifth foul on the play.

After a 10-minute discussion at halfcourt and with coaches Ed Arnzen and Gary Van Atta, the referees not only awarded a second free-throw to Barker (who missed the attempt) but two free throws to Watson for the foul that should never have occured. The play sent Chase to the bench and Watson made both free-throws to pull Martin within two at 59-57.

Fortunately for Southeast, that play did not cost them the game. After two more Watson free-throws brought the Skyhawks back within two at 61-59, Porter made two clutch free-throws with 30 seconds away to ice the game. Porter who only shoots 61% from the line on the season, shoots over 74% in the game's last two minutes. Martin had one last posession and as they tried to get to ball to Pendleton, their best player, Benson made the steal at the top of the key, went the length of the floor for the layup and capped the scoring.

This was the second time in two OVC road games that Benson had made a big shot within the games final minute to ice the game. She had previously made a big shot at Eastern Illinois back on January 5.

Iversen led Southeast with 15 points and 12 rebounds. The 12 rebounds moved her from 10th on the all-time Southeast career list up to 7th, with 673 total boards. Her 15 points moved her within five points of becoming the 12th Otahkian to score 1,000 points in a career. Benson added 11 points, all in the game's second 20 minutes. Chase had 11 points and 7 boards before fouling out.

Martin, who shot only 28% in the second half, was led by 16 from Watson. Pendleton was limited to only one-point in the second half and finished the game with nine points.

"We had some things happen their at the end of the game but we pulled through," Arnzen said after the game. "Benson made the biggest play of the night (on the steal). She was like a shadow guarding Pendleton and did a great job all night. Turnovers and missed free throws are still killing us but getting the win is important."

Southeast will look to go above .500 in the conference when they travel to Murray State on Saturday for a 4:30 p.m. tip-off.

Game Notes: Southeast won for the first time this season when scoring less than 70 points ... Pam Iversen needs only four rebounds to move into 6th place on the SEMO career list, she also needs only three blocks to move into 3rd place on the SEMO list ... Southeast shot a season low 55% from the free-throw line ... Veronica Benson tied a career-high with 6 assists ...LaShelle Porter tied a career-high with 9 rebounds ... Andrea Koeper tied career highs with 4 field goal attempts and 2 steals ... Southeast improved to 10-0 when leading with both 5:00 and 2:00 minutes to play in games this season ... Southeast won for the first time this season on Thursday and the first time wearing their black uniforms.