COLLEGE BASKETBALL: OTAHKIANS TURN COLD IN CALIFORNIA

FRESNO, Calif. -- The Southeast Missouri State University Otahkians shot just 36 percent from the field in a 67-58 loss to New Mexico State in the Fresno Classic Saturday.

The loss dropped Southeast to 2-1 on the season and into the consolation bracket. The Otahks will play the winner of Eastern Washington and Fresno State.

Southeast got a big game from Pam Iversen, who scored 14 points and pulled down 11 rebounds. Veronica Benson also scored 14.

Iversen hit six of her seven shots from the field and both her free-throw attempts. Take away Iversen's and Benson's performances and Southeast shot just 23 percent from the field (eight of 35).

New Mexico State (2-1), which shot 51 percent from the field, jumped out to a 7-0 lead and went into halftime with a 34-24 lead.

Southeast opened the second half on an 11-5 run and the Otahks eventually posted a 50-46 lead with about nine minutes left, but the Aggies regained control of the game after forcing a series of turnovers. New Mexico State ended the game on a 21-8 run after Lori Chase and Jenny Anderson both fouled out.

New Mexico State had four players in double figures as Ivana Stojkovic and Maricela Sanchez each scored 13 and Carrie Saidat and Sinnammonn Garrett had 10 apiece.

For NMSU, the win broke a 10-game losing streak away from its home floor. The Aggies are now 2-33 on the road.