Box Score

Birmingham, Ala. (December 7, 2002) - The Southeast Missouri State Otahkian basketball team used a huge second half to take out future OVC foe Samford University today at Seibert Hall in Birmingham, 89-48.

Southeast started off the game slow, which has been a common theme for the Otahks. However, they kicked it into high gear, just about ten minutes into the game. The score stood at 13-11, and Southeast utilized a 26-12 run to end the half and have a 39-23 lead at the break.

Southeast was led by senior forward Lori Chase. At the half, the St. Louis native had 10 points and she was perfect from the field and the charity stripe. Junior forward Carina Souza had seven points and four rebounds. She was 3-8 from the field and 1-2 from the free-throw line. Junior guard Sarah Costello also had seven points as she led the defensive charge with three steals. Junior guard Natasha Starkes chipped in with seven points of her own, as she was perfect from the field and the line.

Southeast forced 18 Bulldog turnovers and had 11 steals. They shot 44 percent from the field and 85 percent from the free throw line as they missed only two attempts.

The Otahkians started the second half strong, as they went on a 26-10 run and moved their lead to 30 at 65-35. The run grew to 40-16 as Southeast pushed its lead to 79-41. The Otahks looked as if they might make a run at the school record for points scored in a game, 106, as they were at 85 with 4:30 left in the game.

However, Coach Smith and the Otahkians slowed things down and cruised to the easy 89-48 victory.

Southeast was led on the night by strong performances from Chase and Souza. Chase had 18 points and two rebounds as she went 6-8 from the field and 5-5 from the free-throw line. Souza had 18 points, as well and had seven rebounds. Junior guards Sarah Costello and Kenja White each had 13 points. White had five steals and four assists and Costello had four steals and three assists.

Southeast shot 53 percent from the field for the game and forced 30 Samford turnovers, just seven shy of a team record. They had 18 steals, just five shy of a team record.

The Otahkians will be back in action December 16 at 7 p.m. as they play host to the Mighty Oaks of Oakland City University at the Show Me Center.