Feb. 9, 2002

Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky.- Southeast Missouri State played inspried basketball early, taking a lead over Eastern Kentucky in the first half and led 32-31 at the half before the Lady Colonels were able to make a comeback and send the Otahkians to their fifth consecutive loss, 82-73 on Saturday night.

Despite the loss, junior forward Lori Chase became only the 13th Otahkian to record 1,000 points in a career. She did so by hitting a jumper on the right side of the court and drawing a foul at the 14:09 mark of the second half. Senior center Pam Iversen was the 12th Otahkian to record this feat doing so earlier this season. Chase and Iversen are the first Otahkian teammates since Sarita Wesley and Jerri Wiley in 1991 to enter the 1,000 point club in the same season.

Southeast (12-11 overall, 4-8 OVC) did not allow EKU (18-5, 10-2) to open up a big lead early and the Otahks took the lead on an Andrea Koeper three-point play at the 12:42 mark of the first half. Southeast would lead by as many as four points in the half and led 32-31 at the break.

EKU, however, would open the second half on a 14-4 run thanks to seven points from senior guard Zoey Artist. The Lady Colonels extended that advantage to as many as 11 before Southeast was able to make a comeback attempt as they have done in three of the four games on their roadtrip. LaShelle Porter scored six straight points for Southeast and pulled the Otahks within three points at 65-62 before Katie Kelley sunk two free-throws and EKU used a 12-2 run to put the game away.

Porter and Iversen led Southeast with 15 points apiece. Iversen added a team-high nine rebounds and blocked four shots. Chase added 13.

EKU got 17 from Charlotte Sizemore, 14 from Artist, 13 from Kelly 12 from Teresa McNair, and 10 from Mikki Bond.

Southeast shot 50.9% from the field for the game, dropping to 4-1 in games when shooting 50% or better this season. The Otahks also committed a season-high 31 turnovers.

"We had a great effort out of our kids tonight," Coach Ed Arnzen said. "I'm really proud of their effort. Our guards really have to be tired now considering how much pressure EKU applies. But if you are looking for a reason we lost, it was 31 turnovers. But I really think our club is coming together more now than at any other point this season. I think we just need to take the good from this road swing and play well at home against Martin and Murray next week." With the loss, Southeast fell into 7th place in the OVC standings thanks in part to upset victories by Murray State (66-57 over Austin Peay) and Tennessee-Martin (58-52 over Tennessee Tech). Murray and Martin will both be at the Show Me Center next week for crucial must-win games for Southeast.