Jan. 26, 2002

Box Score

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo.- The Southeast Missouri State Otahkians let a 10-point lead slip away in the games final four minutes as the Austin Peay Lady Govs scored the games final 14 points and did a tremendous job rebounding to best the Otahkians 77-73 on Saturday afternoon.

Early on both teams shot the ball particularly well with Southeast (12-7 overall, 4-4 OVC) using a 10-0 run to break a 10-all tie to gain its first real advantage with 12 minutes to play before halftime. Austin Peay (12-7, 5-3) would not back down, however, using their own 10-0 run to even the game at 20 three minutes later. The Otahkians were able to push the advantage back to six before the Lady Govs used a 11-3 run to head into halftime with a 36-34 advantage.

AP shot 48.4% in the opening half, with Southeast struggling over the final few minutes and ending with a 37.1% clip.

The second half belonged to APSU for the half's first 11 minutes. The Lady Govs held their halftime advantage until an Andrea Koeper basket at 9:23 gave Southeast a 61-60 advantage. After the game was tied at 61, Southeast spurted out to a 12-2 run thanks to six points each from Veronica Benson and Lori Chase. That run put the Otahks up 73-63 with just 4:08 to play in the game.

Unfortunately for the Otahkians, Chase and Benson would not score again, neither would the entire team, as AP scored the game's final 14 poins to win 77-73.

In that final run, APSU got a back-to-back three-pointers from Kelly Chavez and Paige Smith to pull the team within two points.

With APSU still trailing by one, Southeast center Pam Iversen drew her 5th foul on a Gerlonda Hardin field goal attempt. Hardin went to the line with 52 seconds left and made the first attempt and got her own rebound after missing her second free-throw. On the ensuing possession, All-OVC guard Brooke Armistead hit a jumper in the lane to put the Lady Govs up for good.

Southeast had one last chance, but LaShelle Porter missed a runner in the lane and Southeast had to foul Shatika Hutcherson who had gained the rebound. Hutcherson made the first free-throw and Gerlonda Hardin got the offensive rebound on the second miss to thrawt any Southeast last-ditch effort. Hardin made the basket to close the scoring.

"Not blocking out really hurt us at the end," Southeast head coach Ed Arnzen said. "I thought we had the game in control but Austin Peay really stepped it up over the last three minutes of the game. They hit some big shots."

"We did much better with the turnovers today but we didn't shoot the ball particularly well. Melis made some big baskets for us and Koepper was solid defensively. Pam fouling out at the end hurt us also."

Austin Peay shot 47.7% for the game, while Southeast shot 41.9%.

Hardin led APSU with 24 points and 17 rebounds, including an amazing 12 offensive boards. Armistead finished with 22 for the Lady Govs.

Benson's 22 points for Southeast tied her career-high, while Chase added 16, Tiffany Melis scored 13 and Pam Iversen added 12.

Southeast will start its four-game road swing on Thursday night at Tennessee State. Southeast bested the Lady Tigers 77-53 on January 14 at the Show Me Center.

Game Notes: Southeast lost for the first time this season when leading with both 5:00 and 2:00 minutes to play; the Otahks are now 12-1 at those marks when holding the lead ... the loss was the first time this season Southeast had lost an afternoon game ... senior center Pam Iversen moved into the Top 10 on the SEMO career scoring list; Iversen also reached the 700 plateau for rebounds in a career ... guard Veronica Benson moved into the Top 10 on the SEMO career three-pointers made list ... the Otahkians committed a season-low in turnovers.