Dec. 20, 2003

Box Score

Nashville, Tenn. - Southeast's 40 minute full court pressure was not enough to lift the team to their fourth straight win. The Otahkians (4-4) pressed Lipscomb (3-3) the entire game, providing a strong defensive challenge, but couldn't get the ball to fall. The squad fell 52-47 tonight at Allen Arena in non-conference action.

Senior Sarah Costello scored the first points of the game on a fast break lay-up at 18:51. Southeast never relinquished their lead in the first half as they stretched their lead to as much as six points. Although, the Lady Bisons did tie the game on four occassions during the half. At intermission, the Otahkians were on top 30-27.

Leading the way for the Otahkians early was two-time OVC Newcomer of the Week, Chandra Brown with seven points. Brown shot 60 percent from the field, compared to the teams combined 33 percent in the half.

The squad played tremendous defense as they created 13 early Lady Bison turnovers, but their defense wasn't enough in the second half to maintain their lead. In the second half Lipscomb took its first lead, 31-30, when sophomore center Katie Beth Pate scored on a lay-up at 18:44. Once the Lady Bisons got the lead they never gave it up, leading by as many as nine points on two different occasions.

Southeast's defensive efforts forced another seven turnovers in the half, but they just couldn't find their offensive rhythm. Lipscomb held Southeast to only 17 points in the second half, 13 of which came from Brown. In the half, the Otahkians shot only 23.3 percent from the field.

The Lady Bisons also struggled offensively as they shot only 31.1 percent from the field on the night and only 56.5 percent from the charity stripe. Southeast's free throw shooting kept them in the game, as they made 9-of-11, 81.8 percent. The usually sharp three-point shooting Otahkian squad, ranked 13th in the nation in three's per game, made only 4-of-25 on the night.

Paving the way for the Otahkians was Brown, with the game-high and her career-high, 20 points. Brown also tied for the game-high 14 boards to record her second straight double-double performance. Her teammates combined for the other 26 points, as no other Otahkian scored more than one bucket from the field. Miah Shelford and Sami Jo Cotton each chipped in five points a piece.

For the Lady Bisons, it was senior forward Monica Blake who earned her first double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds. While sophomore center Katie Beth Pate, pulled down 14 rebounds to tie Brown for the game-high. She was only two points from her second double-double on the season.

Southeast will return to action as they take on in-state rival, SMSU this Tuesday, Dec. 23 at 7:05 p.m. in Springfield, Mo.