Feb. 16, 2002

Box Score

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Only two games removed from a season-high five game losing streak, the Southeast Missouri State Otahkians may be playing their best ball of the season. The Otahkians committed a season-low seven turnovers in defeating Murray State 72-64 on Saturday night.

"For a stretch in the first half, we played as good as we have at any point this season," Coach Ed Arnzen said after the game. "But I think I killed our momentum when I took Lori (Chase) out of the game to avoid her second foul. Murray was able to cut into our lead and get back into the game."

Southeast (14-11, 6-8 OVC) jumped out to a 18-7 lead early and was able to stretch the advantage to 15 points with 6:00 minutes remaining before the half, at 29-14. Murray was able to close the last six minutes with a 16-4 run, thanks to two big three-pointers from senior forward Susan Tackett, the team's leading scorer.

Murray State (10-14, 5-9) scored the first basket of the second half to get within one-point before the Otahkians were able to push the lead back to six points after a Tiffany Melis three-pointer, the 69th of her career, put Southeast on top 42-36 with 15:05 to play.

Murray cut the lead back to two before sophomore center Tisa Thomas took over. She scored 10 straight points for Southeast over the next three minutes to push Southeast back up by six.

"Just win," said sophmore center Tisa Thomas referring to what Southeast wanted to do in the game. "When I come in the game I want to do whatever it takes for our team to be successful."

The Lady Racers were able to tie the game at 52, but were never able to gain an advantage. That's when Veronica Benson, playing in front of more than 50 family members and friends who made the trip from Alexander City, Ala. to see her play on Parent's Night, scored five straight points, including a steal and layup and a tough shot in the lane as the shot clock expired to push Southeast into the lead. Her assist on an Andrea Koeper field goal put the Otahkians back up 61-54 and they never looked back.

"It's always exciting to play in front of your family," Benson said. "It was a tough game, we knew we had to win and I think we played better than we did Thursday (when Southeast beat UT-Martin)."

Southeast was led in scoring by Chase's 20 points. Chase also grabbed a team-high eight rebounds and dished out three assists. Benson scored 16 points, grabbed seven rebounds, dished out four assists and was credited with three steals. Thomas, who was 6-10 from the field, had 14 points, her first double-digit effort in eight games.

Murray was led by 13 points from Eniko Verebes, 10 of which came in the first half. Center Denise McDonald added nine points and 11 boards.

Southeast committed a season-low seven turnovers after having troubles as of late holding onto the ball. The team also matched its win total from last season by winning their 14th game.

With the victory over Murray and a Tennessee-Martin loss to Eastern Illinois, Southeast took over sole possession of fifth place in the OVC. The Otahks still have an outside shot of catching Morehead State for fourth place, but have to win out and hope MSU loses its remaining three games. A win over Eastern Illinois on Monday night will assure Southeast of at least a fifth place finish and most likely to date with Morehead State on Tuesday, February 26.

Southeast will battle EIU on Monday at 7:00 p.m. It will be "Ed Arnzen Appreciation Night" as the 19-year coach will coach his last game at the Show Me Center before retiring and admission is free to the public. Arnzen will be honored in a pre-game ceremony before the game as will the Otahks three seniors, Cindy Bates, Veronica Benson and Pam Iversen.

Game Notes: Senior center Pam Iversen blocked three shots in the game to move into second place on the SEMO career block list with 109, her 40 blocks this season ranks second in a season at Southeast, as she passed her sister Allison's mark of 39 during the 1999-00 season tonight ... Chase moved into 11th place on the SEMO career scoring list with 1047 points ... Chase has scored 20-plus points in four of her last five games ... Southeast outscored Murray 36-14 in the paint for the game.