Box Score

Clarksville, Tenn. (January 25, 2003) - The Southeast Missouri State Otahkian basketball team scored a season-low 45 points tonight as the Lady Govs of Austin Peay played excellent defense and defeated the Otahkians 58-45 in Clarksvile. Southeast moves to 10-6, 4-2 OVC, while Peay goes to 12-3, 5-0 OVC.

Austin Peay started out on fire as they jumped out to a 12-2 lead after five minutes. The lead was 20-6 with eight minutes remaining in the first half before Southeast went on an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to just six at 20-14 with six minutes remaining. Peay, however, went on an 11-4 run to end the half, and went into the locker room up 31-18.

Southeast was led by both junior guard Kenja White and junior forward Carina Souza who had five points each at the half. Peay was led by senior guard Brooke Armistead, who had 13 points at the half after going 5-8 from the field.

The second half was much the same of the first. Both teams scored a combined 11 points seven minutes of the half, with the Lady Govs taking a 20-point lead at 40-20. Junior forward Yashika Sidbury made a play at getting the Otahks back into the game as she made four 3-pointers in a row and a layup to pull Southeast to within 13.

Southeast got as close as 11, but couldn't cut the deficit any further, and lost by 13. The Otahks were led on the night by a strong showing from Sidbury. After missing her first two three-point attempts, she went out and finished 4-9 on the night and 6-12 from the field for 16 points. She had three rebounds, as well. White had 11 points and three assists, as senior guard LaShelle Porter had a game-high eight assists.

Southeast couldn't overcome the inside-outside attack of Peay's Center Gerlonda Hardin and Armistead. Hardin finished the night with 15 points after going 7-10 from the field and picking up eight rebounds. Armistead went 6-15 from the field and 5-6 from the line and scored a game-high 17 points.

The Otahks now will travel to Charleston, Illinois this Thursday as they will take on the Panthers of Eastern Illinois University at 5:15 p.m. They will then come home to host Tennessee Tech on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. and then Tennessee State at 7 p.m. on Monday night.