Feb. 1, 2002

Southeast Missouri State Otahkians (12-8, 4-5)
vs. Tennessee Tech Golden Eaglettes (14-5, 7-1)
Game 21 * February 2, 2002 * 5:30 p.m. CT
Eblen Center (10,152) * Cookeville, Tenn.

About Southeast: The Otahkians find themself in a hole after dropping their last two OVC contests, both of which they probably should have won. Last Saturday, the Lady Govs of Austin Peay scored the final 14 points of the game to overcome a 10-point Otahkian advantage in the game's final four minutes. On Thursday, after overcoming an 18-point Tennessee State advantage, Southeast battled back but missed two free-throws at the end of regulation that would have won the game. TSU eventually won the game in double overtime.

Tennessee Tech enters Saturday's matchup with a 7-1 league mark and are tied with Eastern Kentucky for the OVC lead. They are led by two-time OVC Player of the Year Janet Holt, who leads the OVC in both scoring (23.9) and rebounding (8.6). Holt's scoring average at the beginning of the week ranked her second in the entire nation. Tech is tough to beat in the Eblen Center, as they enter Saturday's contest with an 18-game home court winning streak. The Golden Eaglettes have not lost at home since December 10, 2001 when they fell 87-74 to Middle Tennessee.

Southeast got a career-high 31 points from Veronica Benson on Thursday. Benson leads the team with a 17.1 average in nine conference games through Thursday. Overall she is second on the team with a 14.0 average in 19 total games.

Otahkian senior center Pam Iversen needs only one assist and one steal to become only the second OVC player to ever record 1,000 points, 700 rebounds, 150 assists, 100 steals, and 100 blocks in a career at the Division I level. The other OVC player, ironically from Tennessee Tech, was Melinda Clayton, who played for the Golden Eaglettes from 86-90.

The game can be heard in the Cape Girardeau area on KAPE 1550-AM with Jeff Brightwell doing the play-by-play. Otahkian fans outside the area can get the Tennessee Tech broadcast via their athletic website at www2.tntech.edu/athletics.