Feb. 14, 2002

Box Score

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo.- In what could be considered a must-win game for Southeast Missouri, the Otahkians took care of business in holding Tennessee-Martin to only 29.8% shooting, a season low for a Southeast oppponent, and won 61-51 on Thursday night.

The teams fought evenly earlier before Southeast (13-11 overall, 5-8 OVC) was able to open up a seven point lead at the 16:25 mark of the first half. Tennessee-Martin (7-17, 5-8) would pull ahead though at 18-17 at the 8:24 mark before the half. Unfortuneatley for UTM they would not score again in the half, as Southeast used a 10-0 run to close the half and lead 27-18 at the break.

The Otahks would extend the lead to as mnay as 12 at the 16:22 mark before Martin went on a big run capped by a Kelly Pendleton three-pointer to pull UTM within two at 35-33 at the 13:49 mark. The game would remain a nip-and-tuck affair the rest of the way, although Southeast would never relinquish the lead. Senior guard Veronica Benson would then hit 5-6 free-throws over the games final 40 seconds to secure the victory.

The win was especially important for Southeast, as the Otahks climbed out of 7th place and back into 5th in the OVC race. Wins in their next two home games would secure Southeast with a fifth place conference finish.

"It was a must win game tonight," Coach Ed Arnzen said. "We were able to get the ball inside early which was key. We also held Pendleton in check (only 7 points in the game) and played well defensively. We did have a chance to put them away in the second half but we did get the win which was important."

Lori Chase led Southeast with 20 points. Senior center Pam Iversen scored 15 points and grabbed a season-high 13 rebounds to go along with four steals. The steals put her over the 100 steal plateau in her career, making her only the second OVC player to ever record 1,000 points, 700 rebounds, 150 assists, 100 steals and 100 blocks in a career. Benson was the other Otahkian in double figures with 15.

"We came out ready to play tonight," Chase said after the game. "We really had a lot of defensive intensity and played hard and got a game we had to win."

"We need to keep the intensity going," said Benson. "Hopefully on Saturday we'll come out and do the same things defensively but only better."

UT-Martin was led by 12 points from Amy Watson. The Skyhawks shot only 2-12 (16.7%) from three-point range and 17-57 (29.8%) from the field. Southeast shot 35.8% from the field and made 1-7 (14.3%) from long range. Southeast did make 22-29 free-throws, led by 10-12 from Chase.

The Otahkians will be back in action on Saturday afternoon when they battle the Murray State Lady Racers at 5:30 p.m. at the Show Me Center. The game will be an important contest in the OVC race. A victory will put Southeast in a very good position to claim the fifth spot in the OVC standings and most likely battle Morehead State in the OVC Tournament first round.

Game Notes: Southeast shot a season-low 35.8% marking only the second time this season the Otahks were held below 40%; they lost the other game they were below 40% to Mizzou ... the 51 points by UT-Martin were a season-low for a Southeast opponent ... Lori Chase's 20 points moved her past Jerri Wiley into 12th place on the SEMO all-time list with 1,027 points; she needs three points to move into 11th place all-time.