Feb. 22, 2002

Austin Peay Game Notes and Statistics in PDF Format
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Southeast Missouri State Otahkians (15-11, 7-8)
vs. Austin Peay Lady Govs (16-10, 9-6)
Game 27 * February 23, 2002 * 5:30 p.m. CT
Dunn Center (9,000) * Clarksville, Tenn.

About Southeast: Although the Southeast Missouri Otahkian basketball team does not know where it will open OVC Tournament play on Tuesday night, they do know they are peaking at the right time. After suffering through a season-long five-game losing streak, the Otahks have battled back and played three outstanding team games and clinched a fifth place seed in the OVC Tournament.

With a victory over Austin Peay on Saturday and a Morehead State victory at Murray State also on Saturday, Southeast will come back to Clarksville for a date with the Lady Govs. If Southeast or Morehead loses, then the Otahkians will make the seven hour trek to the Bluegrass State to battle Morehead State.

The last time these two teams met, Austin Peay outscored Southeast 14-0 over the games final 4:08 to overcome a 10-point defecit and surprise the Otahks at the Show Me Center.

Austin Peay is coming off a double loss of sorts last Saturday at Morehead State. No t only did APSU lose the game but got the bad news when Shatika Hutcherson, the team's leading rebounder, went down with an Achilles tendon tear, had surgery on Thursday and is lost for the season. Hutcherson, a junior college transfer, had been named OVC Newcomer of the Week four times this season and was a fixture in the Lady Govs starting lineup. Even without Hutcherson, APSU is still deadly, as they are led by All-OVC forward Brooke Armistead and defending OVC Rookie of the Year Gerlonda Hardin.

Southeast is coming off an emotional 79-51 victory over Eastern Illinois on Monday night. The game marked the last Show Me Center contest for Head Coach Ed Arnzen who will retire at the end of this season. The game was also the last SMC contest for seniors Cindy Bates, Veronica Benson and Pam Iversen. That trio combined for 31 points and 10 rebounds in their last home contest.

Saturday's game could also mark the move up the SEMO career lists for two Otahks. Junior forward Lori Chase needs only 13 points to move into the Top 10 scoring leaders list and senior center Pam Iversen needs only 10 rebounds to rank 3rd all-time at Southeast.