Co-champions square off in final

~ Southeast will try to earn its first berth in the NCAA tournament.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- It will be a clash between the Ohio Valley Conference's all-time best women's basketball program and the league's up-and-coming program for all the marbles today.

Perennial power Tennessee Tech and upstart Southeast Missouri State will square off at 11 a.m. in the championship game of the OVC tournament, with the winner earning the conference's automatic NCAA tournament berth.

"It should be a great game," Southeast coach B.J. Smith said.

Tech (22-7) and Southeast (21-8) shared the OVC regular-season title this year, with the Eaglettes earning the top seed for the tournament based on tie-breakers.

While it was the Redhawks' first conference championship since the university moved up to Division I and joined the OVC in 1991-1992, the Eaglettes are veterans at celebrating.

The Eaglettes, sporting the best all-time record among OVC teams in overall play as well as in conference games, have captured a league-record 16 OVC regular-season titles, along with a league-best nine OVC tournament championships.

Southeast has never won an OVC tournament title, although today will mark the third time the Redhawks have reached the final in Smith's first four seasons with the program.

Asked about the stark contrast in the traditions of the two programs, Smith said, "It is. I remember the first time I walked into Tennessee Tech's gym and saw all those banners. We're trying to get to where they've been."

The Redhawks have certainly narrowed the gap -- and some would argue even surpassed the Eaglettes, at least by the numbers -- since Smith came to Cape Girardeau.

Southeast actually has the best record among OVC teams over the last four years both overall (78-40) and in regular-season conference play (51-17).

And the Redhawks have gotten the better of the Eaglettes under Smith, winning seven of 10 meetings, including a 71-68 thriller in last year's OVC tournament semifinals as senior guard Tiffanne Ryan hit a 3-pointer just before the buzzer.

"We've had some great games with Tech," Smith said. "Last year was really something."

While Tech has all those championship banners, the Eaglettes have not won an OVC tournament title -- and gained an NCAA berth -- since 1999-2000.

The Redhawks, meanwhile, came so close last year, as Eastern Kentucky needed a shot at the regulation buzzer to force overtime, then went on to prevail 84-73 in double-overtime.

Southeast's initial appearance in the OVC tournament final in school history -- during Smith's first season in 2002-2003 -- ended with an 85-61 loss to Austin Peay.

"We got beat bad that first year, then we were so close last year," Smith said.

Smith and his players expect nothing less than a down-to-the-wire battle today.

"That game is going to be tough, but we're ready," senior center Tatiana Conceicao said. "I think it's going to be close the whole way. The win is going to come at the end."

Southeast and Tech split their two regular-season meetings, the Eaglettes winning 81-77 in overtime on Dec. 10 in Cape Girardeau, and the Redhawks prevailing 53-46 on Jan. 21 in Cookeville, Tenn.

The survivor of the rubber match will be headed to the NCAA tournament.

"It's going to be hard," Conceicao said. "But I think this is our year."

Tech rolls into final

While Southeast had a real battle with third-seeded Samford in Friday's semifinals, pulling away late for a 59-52 victory, Tech had little trouble with fifth-seeded Morehead State, romping 80-66.

The Eaglettes trailed just once all game, 9-8 in the early going, and led by 20 points in the second half.

Senior center Emily Christian, the OVC player of the year -- after Conceicao won the award last season -- had 32 points and 13 rebounds.