COLLEGE BASKETBALL: OTAHK RALLY FALLS SHORT AGAINST E. WASHINGTON

FRESNO, Calif. -- A late charge by Southeast Missouri State University's women's team proved futile as the Otahkians fell to Eastern Washington 67-64 in a consolation game in the Fresno Classic.

Southeast, which lost to New Mexico State on Saturday, finished the tournament 0-2 and fell to 2-2 on the season.

The win was the first of the season for Eastern Washington (1-3), which received game-high totals of 21 points and nine rebounds from Jennifer Paluck.

Veronica Benson led Southeast with 15 points, while Lori Chase had 14 and Christine Rathke had 10.

Eastern Washington took a 45-36 lead into the second half and led comfortably for most of the remaining 20 minutes. Southeast trailed 65-54 with 4:24 left, when it began to make a move. Tisa Thomas made a pair of free throws at the 4:02 mark to spark a 10-0 run that was culminated by a pair of Kim Brown free throws with 1:20 remaining.

Trailing 65-64, the Otahkians had a couple chances to take the lead, but Eastern Washington ended the run on a Heather Thoelke free throw with :43 left for a 66-64 advantage. Southeast missed on a layup on its next possession before fouling Paluk at the :11 mark. The Otahkians' hopes remained alive as Paluk made just one free throw for a 67-64 lead, but Southeast's Christine Rathke missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.