EIU STUNS OTAHKIANS WITH ROUT

It was supposed to be an evening of celebration for Southeast Missouri State University's women's basketball program.

But Eastern Illinois helped to spoil the festivities just a bit.

Members of Southeast's 1990-91 team that finished as the NCAA Division II runner-up were on hand for Saturday's game against Eastern Illinois at the Show Me Center. And those Otahkians from a decade ago were honored at halftime of the men's contest.

But EIU's Lady Panthers made sure the current Otahkians would not be able to fully enjoy the festivities as they recorded a stunning 70-47 upset victory.

That EIU, which entered the game in last place in the nine-team Ohio Valley Conference, even prevailed was surprising enough. But the fact the Lady Panthers won so handily was particularly shocking.

"I have been through a lot of ballgames, but I've never been through so humiliating a ballgame in my life," said an obviously distressed Southeast coach Ed Arnzen. "What makes it so humiliating is we wanted to win the game for ourselves, but obviously it was a chance for me to showcase what we had for our former players and coaches."

EIU, battling for a spot in the OVC Tournament (the top eight teams qualify), improved to 7-18 overall and 3-11 in the conference.

Southeast, which had already clinched a home game for the first round of the league tourney, fell to 13-11 overall and 8-6 in OVC play as the Otahkians remained in fourth place.

"I don't know what happened, except they outplayed us in every area," Arnzen said.

The Otahkians were never really in the game as they led only briefly early at 7-4. EIU used an 8-0 run to go ahead 12-7 and the Lady Panthers never trailed again as they pretty much had control the rest of the way.

Clinging to a 22-20 lead late in the first half, EIU closed the period with a 12-4 run to carry a 34-24 advantage into the break.

Things quickly got out of hand in the second half as EIU built a 45-30 lead less than five minutes in. Southeast never got closer than 12 points again as the Lady Panthers steadily pulled away and led by as many as 25 in the late going.

Southeast committed a whopping 30 turnovers -- 17 in the first half -- and shot just 41 percent from the field. EIU hit 51 percent of its field-goal attempts and also held a 30-21 rebounding edge.

"I thought we did a nice job defensively," said EIU coach Linda Wunder. "We felt if we could force them into some turnovers, we could win. I think we frustrated them."

Lori Chase was Southeast's only double-figure scorer as she had 11 points.

EIU got huge games from both guard Renee Schaul and center Pam O'Connor.

Schaul hit 10 of 19 from the field and scored 25 points while also wreaking defensive havoc all over the court with five steals, most of them leading to easy baskets.

O'Connor, a freshman, was eight of 11 from the floor on her way to 20 points.

"Turnovers came early and often for us and they got all the shots they wanted," said Arnzen. "They came out and played hard, the way you have to do. For whatever reason, we didn't match that."