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SportsFebruary 4, 2001

Fouling Lori Chase is generally not a wise move at any time. The sophomore forward on Southeast Missouri State University's women's basketball team shoots an impressive 85 percent from the free-throw line on the season. But sending Chase to the charity stripe was particularly foolish Saturday night. Tennessee State, however, kept doing it and the result was a record-breaking performance by Chase during the Otahkians' 95-84 victory at the Show Me Center...

Fouling Lori Chase is generally not a wise move at any time. The sophomore forward on Southeast Missouri State University's women's basketball team shoots an impressive 85 percent from the free-throw line on the season.

But sending Chase to the charity stripe was particularly foolish Saturday night. Tennessee State, however, kept doing it and the result was a record-breaking performance by Chase during the Otahkians' 95-84 victory at the Show Me Center.

Chase set school single-game records for free throws made and attempted -- she hit 23 of 25 for a sizzling 92 percent on her way to a career-high 35 points -- in the foul-plagued contest that took a little more than two hours to complete.

"I've been practicing free throws since the day I started playing," said a grinning Chase when asked about her prowess at the foul line. "Coach says take it to them and I guess that's why I get fouled a lot."

Added Chase, who also set an Ohio Valley Conference record with the 23 made free throws, "It (the game) lasted a long time because of all the free throws. But it was a good win for us. We needed it."

Southeast, which broke a two-game losing streak, improved to 12-8 overall and 7-3 in OVC play as the Otahkians remained in third place in the nine-team league.

TSU fell to 5-15 overall and 3-8 in the OVC.

"It was good to win, but it was an ugly game," said Southeast coach Ed Arnzen. "Tennessee State will always foul a lot. I said yesterday (Friday) I thought we'd shoot 40 free throws."

Arnzen hit that prediction almost exactly on the nose. The Otahkians attempted 39 free throws and made 31 for 79.5 percent. In the second half, placed in the bonus early, Southeast was 28 of 34 (82.4 percent) from the stripe. Chase made 22 of 24 foul shots in the final 20 minutes on her way to 30 second-half points.

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"Lori is a very good free-throw shooter," Arnzen said. "We've got some good free-throw shooters, if we can get the right kids to the line."

The Lady Tigers were sent to the free-throw line 32 times making 22 as the squads combined for 52 fouls, 27 by TSU.

Pam Iversen continued her recent strong play for the Otahkians by scoring 22 points and grabbing 17 rebounds for her fourth consecutive double-double. Iversen hit 10 of 15 shots from the field.

Also scoring in double figures for the Otahkians was LaShelle Porter with 13 points.

TSU got 32 points from Taurus Pyles, 19 from Angela Hassell, 15 from LaRissa Thomas and 14 from Tamara Washington.

The Lady Tigers scored the game's first six points, but Southeast recovered to grab four first-half leads, the last at 28-26 with a little more than seven minutes remaining.

TSU then used an 11-0 run to go ahead 37-28 and they built their largest lead of the night at 41-30 on a Pyles basket with 1:35 left in the period.

Southeast was able to get within striking distance at the break as Porter nailed a 3-pointer and Chase got a conventional three-point play, pulling the Otahkians to within 41-36.

The Otahkians scored the first six points of the second half to pull into a 41-41 tie. TSU went ahead one more time, at 43-41, and the squads were deadlocked at 45-45 when Southeast took control with an 11-0 run that featured eight made free throws.

Southeast led by 17 points twice, at 68-51 and 83-66 with just over five minutes left. TSU managed to get within eight at 86-78 with 2:35 remaining but the Otahkians nailed down the victory with free throws, which on this night was no surprise.

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