Dec. 23, 2003

Box Score

Springfield, Mo. - Women's hoops couldn't find their groove as they struggled offensively from the floor for their third straight game. The squad just couldn't shut down the hot shooting Lady Bears as they overpowered Southeast 87-59. Despite the loss, pre-season All-OVC selection, Carina Souza, had a tremendous game as she led the way for the Otahkians with a season-high 16 points.

SMS (7-1) jumped out to the early lead as they went up 4-0 early. Southeast's Kenja White answered back for the Otahkians as she pulled up in the paint for the jumper on a fast break, cutting the Lady Bears lead to two. Then it was Chandra Brown to tie the game with the fast break lay-up off a Sarah Costello assist. SMS then pulled ahead, but Yashika Sidbury pulled up to drain the trey, tying the game at seven all.

The Otahkians stayed within seven until Brown was called for a technical foul as she lost her balance and fell on an SMS player as they fought for the rebound. The squad seemed to loss steam after that call as they fell behind 51-29 at the half.

Sidbury had the hot hand for the Otahkians after she has been struggling, especially from beyond the arc. But she was on fire in the first half as she drained 3-of-3 from three-point range, shooting a total 3-of-5 from the field, and 2-of-2 from the charity stripe. Sidbury had an 11-point total at intermission, leading the way for the Otahks.

As a squad the team shot 41.4 percent from the field in the half, but weren't able to slow down the Lady Bears as they shot 55.2 percent. The Otahkians also got into some early foul trouble was they had 14 to SMS's six.

The Otahks came out in the second scoring the easy fast break on a Costello to White combination, but SMS answered back with nine uncontested points. Forward Miah Shelford, battling sickness, saw her first action in the second as Carina Souza got in foul trouble. The Otahks were also short sophomore Tiffanne Ryan as she missed her third game due to an ankle injury. Newcomer Sami Jo Cotton played through a hand injury in her shooting hand sustained in the last game, but saw her playing time a bit limited.

Leading the way for the Otahkians was Souza with 16 points. She continued her perfect free throw shooting on the season making 2-of-2. Sidbury followed closely behind with a season-high 15 points. She also led the way for the Otahks on the glass pulling down nine. Costello added to the offensive attack at the point guard position, chipping in six assists.

Scoring the game-high was SMS's Kari Koch as she scored 23. Teammate K.C. Cowgill also had a great performance making 5-of-6 from the field and 3-of-3 from beyond the arc, to add 13 points for the Lady Bears.

As a team the squad shot 36.1 percent from the floor on the night and 83.3 percent from the line. SMS shot 52.8 percent from the field and out rebounded the Otahkians 41-28. Southeast put up an excellent defensive effort as they forced 23 SMS turnovers.

Coming up the Otahkians will finish non-conference competition as they fly to San Antonio, Tex. for their final two games in the UTSA Classic. Southeast will take on No. 11 Kansas State on Dec. 30 at 5:00 p.m. Then the squad will match-up with Alcorn State on Dec. 31 at 2:00 p.m. for their final non-conference contest.