OTAHKIANS AGAIN ON ROAD TODAY

Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball coach Ed Arnzen figures the Otahkians needed to win at least two of the three games on a rugged Ohio Valley Conference road trip.

The Otahkians almost stumbled during the first leg of their journey -- but thanks to a big comeback, they're right on schedule.

Southeast, coming off a 75-64 victory at Eastern Illinois Saturday, was only back home for a few hours late Saturday night before leaving early Sunday morning for Richmond, Ky. The Otahkians will take on Eastern Kentucky at 5:30 p.m. today.

Following today's contest, the Otahkians will have their third straight OVC road game Saturday when they face Morehead State in Morehead, Ky.

"This is a really tough stretch of road games for us and we need to win two out of three," said Arnzen. "That's why it (Saturday's game) was so important for us."

The Otahkians trailed Eastern Illinois by 14 points early in the second half before storming back for the 11-point victory.

Southeast thus remained in a first-place OVC tie with Tennessee-Martin and Middle Tennessee State, all at 8-2 in league play. The Otahkians are 13-5 overall.

Eastern Kentucky, at 6-4, is in fifth place in the tight OVC standings, but the Lady Colonels are just two games out of first place. Tennessee Tech is in fourth place at 7-3.

"It's a really tight race," Arnzen said. "There is still so much left to be decided."