Feb. 26, 2002

Box Score

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn.- A 76-67 Ohio Valley Tournament loss to the Austin Peay Lady Govs not only ended the season for the Southeast Missouri State Otahkians but ended the coaching career of a great coach, Ed Arnzen. Arnzen, who is stepping down at the end of the season, strolled the sidelines for the final time in his career tonight.

"It's a disappointing way to end the season," Arnzen said in his final post-game interview. "I thought we dominated inside on Saturday night (in the regular season finale versus Austin Peay) but they dominated us inside tonight. It's really hard to beat a team twice on the road in a four-day stretch."

"I told our players, especially our seniors, that there is more to life than just a game. I know it hurts now but the sun will come up tomorrow. As far as this team goes, I thought they really came together well. They are a good club and I really enjoyed being around them, especially off the court. As a whole, they are a great bunch of girls, real class acts."

The game was tied at 8-8 before Austin Peay (17-11) used a 16-6 run to open up a 10-point advantage with 8:23 remaining before the half. A big part of the advantage came from two early fouls on Southeast center Pam Iversen. Iversen picked up her second foul at the 11:28 mark with Southeast (16-12) trailing by only five points. The Otahkians struggled the rest of the half scoring inside.

And when it looked like APSU would pull away Southeast made a great comeback. Backup center Tisa Thomas scored six points in the run and junior Lori Chase, named to the All-OVC second team before the game, hit four free-throws to pull Southeast within one. After the Lady Govs went back up by two, senior Veronica Benson hit two free-throws to tie the game with only eight seconds remaining. Southeast, feeling the momentum shift, pressed APSU on the inbounds play, and Benson came up with an easy steal under the basket and scored to give Southeast its first lead since 4-2 (at the 19:04 mark) and sent the Otahks into the lead at the break. It felt important at the time because in the season's previous two meetings, which ever team led at halftime went on to win the game.

The Southeast run in the first half was fueled by increased shooting. After the first media timeout the Otahks were shooting only 28.6% from the field, but Southeast improved that mark at each consecutive timeout until shooting a game-high 48.1% at the break.

But Austin Peay was ready to make a statement after losing to Southeast by 12 on its senior day a mere three days earlier. The Lady Govs ran off nine straight points out of halftime thanks to five points from first-team All-OVC selection Brooke Armistead, Austin Peay's all-time leading scorer. A Southeast timeout could not squelch the run, however, as APSU increased their lead to its zenith at 16 points at the 9:37 mark when Armistead drained one of her two three-pointers in the game.

When Southeast looked dead in the water, they would make one final run to get close. The Otahkians turned up the defensive intensity, went to a full-court press and were able to pull within six points on a Chase free-throw at the 1:52 mark. However, Armistead would convert on six free-throws to close out the game and give APSU the first round victory.

Austin Peay has now won six of its last seven OVC Tournament games, including last year's tournament championship game. They will play Eastern Kentucky in the first semifinal on Saturday afternoon.

Southeast was led by 17 points from Chase. Benson added 16 in her final game as an Othakian and Iversen and LaShelle Porter added 12 apiece. Southeast shot 53.8% from the field for the game.

Southeast fell to 1-9 all-time in the OVC Tournament and 1-8 in the first round.

Armistead led APSU with 32 points, after scoring 31 on Saturday night. She hit 10-10 from the line for the night and was an amazing 23-23 for the season against Southeast from the line. Second team All-OVC selection Gerlonda Hardin added 20 points and 11 rebounds while Jessica Ezell added 12 boards. Junior guard Paige Smith, who had struggled recently, not hitting double figures in her last four games, scored 14 points. She had only 12 points combined in her last two games versus Southeast before more than doubling that on Tuesday.

As a team, the Lady Govs made 21-24 free-throws while Southeast only had 12 attempts, making 10 of them. Southeast also only hit 1-8 from long range, with that attempt coming in the game's final minute with the Otahks trailing.

Arnzen finishes his career at Southeast with a 340-202 overall record in 19 season at Southeast, an OVC Coach of the Year award, three MIAA Division II Coach of the Year awards, and a runner-up at the 1991 NCAA Division II National Championship.

"As for me I'm going to find something else to do when I finish up my contract at the end of June," Arnzen said. "It is just time to get out of basketball. But these (past 19) years have been some of the best of my life."

Game Notes: Senior center Pam Iversen finished her career 9th on the SEMO all-time scoring list with 1,157 points ... Iversen finished 3rd on the SEMO all-time rebounding list with 770 caroms ... Iversen failed to block a shot in the game, finishing tied 1st on the SEMO all-time block list with 115 and tied for 1st in a season at SEMO in blocks with 46 this year ... junior Lori Chase finished her season with 1,097 points in her career, 10th all-time at Southeast, she should move as high as 3rd place all-time at Southeast by the completion of her senior year next season ... Chase also finished the season with 34 career three-pointers (30 this season alone) and should move up the SEMO career charts next year ... Chase also finished the season with 64 consecutive starts in her career, the most of any current Otahkian ... Chase led the team in scoring tonight for the 12th time this season, a team-high, she also hit double figures more than any other Otahkian this season, 24 times ... sophomore Tisa Thomas blocked two shots in the game and needs only three blocks to move into the SEMO career Top 10.