Otahkian capture OVC opener 77-68

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Despite Eastern Illinois' lowly record, Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball coach Ed Arnzen fully expected a major battle during the Otahkians' Ohio Valley Conference opener here Saturday night.

And that's exactly what the Otahkians got as they needed a late surge to avoid an upset and post a 77-68 victory.

The Otahkians improved to 8-3 overall while the Panthers, who were also playing their first OVC game, fell to 1-11.

"They're all tough in the conference. They will all be like this. You'll win by a few or lose by a few," said Arnzen. "Eastern Illinois is a lot better than their record. I think they will beat some people, if they don't get demoralized. They've played such a tough non-conference schedule."

EIU finished dead last in the OVC last year and the Panthers are picked to occupy that spot again this season -- but you'd have never guessed it by the way they fought the Otahkians.

The game was tight from wire to wire, with nine ties and 10 lead changes. Until a late flurry, Southeast's biggest lead was six points early in the contest while EIU's largest advantage was four points.

Southeast was finally able to prevail by scoring the game's final 10 points after trailing by one with under a minute remaining.

"I thought we would win it at the end because they've been struggling and our confidence is a lot better," Arnzen said.

Senior guard Veronica Benson, who had a huge second half, finally gave the Otahkians the lead for good in the late going.

After Lauren Dailey hit two free throws with 1:01 remaining for a 68-67 EIU lead, Benson made a spin move in the lane, hit a short jumper and was fouled. Her free throw with 50 seconds left completed the three-point play to put Southeast up 70-68.

"When the game was on the line, Veronica wanted the ball and we got it to her," said Arnzen. "You want that for one of your senior leaders."

Benson leads the attack

Benson led all scorers with 22 points, 16 coming in the second half. She hit eight of 12 shots from the field and also had three assists to go along with four steals.

"It was crunch time and I knew we had to score," said Benson of her game-winning play.

Added Benson, "We knew it would be a tough game. On the road, that's pretty much the way it is."

Also in double figures offensively for the Otahkians were LaShelle Porter with 16 points, Pam Iversen with 14 and Lori Chase with 11. Chase had four assists and three steals, Porter had three assists and four steals while Iversen pulled down a team-high seven rebounds.

EIU, which almost pulled off the upset despite having a whopping 26 turnovers -- including 17 during a first half that ended with a 31-31 tie -- was led by Dailey and Pam O'Connor with 20 points each.

Dailey had 18 second-half points but O'Connor, the OVC's fourth-leading scorer at 18 points per game, had just four in the second half.