Box Score

Charleston, Ill. (January 30, 2003) - One game after scoring a five-season low 45 points, Southeast Missouri exploded in the first half for 40 points and another 42 in the second as they defeated the Panthers of Eastern Illinois, 82-64. Southeast now moves its record to 11-6, 5-2 in the OVC, while Eastern falls to 3-15, 2-5 OVC.

Southeast started the game out on fire. In the first four minutes they had 14 points and were up by ten. They continued that pace throughout most of the half, but with four minutes left in the half, Eastern made a quick 5-0 run to cut the lead to just five, before a jumper from sophomore forward Miah Shelford gave the Otahkians a seven-point lead at the half.

Junior forward Lori Chase led all scorers at the half as she had 14 points on 5-7 shooting from the field and 2-3 from behind the arc. Lauren Dailey and Brooke Gossett for EIU both had 10 points each. Both schools shot over 40 percent in the half, but 15 turnovers for EIU kept the Panthers at bay.

The Otahks started the second half much like they started the game. Their seven-point halftime lead quickly grew to 15 at 42-57 with just four minutes gone by. The Panthers again cut the lead to just seven with just under eight minutes remaining, but a slew of three-pointers from junior forward Yashika Sidbury started a 15-2 run for the Otahks pushing their lead to 20. The Panthers made two late free throws to cut the lead to 18, but that would be how the game ended.

Southeast was led on the night by Chase's 20 points and eight rebounds. She was 6-10 from the field and 3-4 behind the arc. She made 5-8 free throws. Sidbury had 18 points on the night, as she hit 4-7 from three-point land and made both of her free throw attempts. Junior guard Kenja White had 14 points and junior guard Sarah Costello had 10 making it four Otahks in double-figures. Junior forward Carina Souza had eight points and 11 rebounds.

Southeast was out-shot for the second time against EIU this season as they shot 44 percent to Eastern's 45. They forced 27 turnovers, a season-high for Eastern. The Otahks capitalized on those turnovers scoring 30 points off of them.

The Otahkians next come home on Saturday to play host to the Golden Eaglettes of Tennessee Tech. Tip off is slated for 5:30 p.m. at the Show Me Center.