OTAHKIANS FALL TO 0-2 IN OVC

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- His team's first Ohio Valley Conference road excursion of the season is something Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball coach Ed Arnzen certainly won't be putting in any highlight films.

A little more than 48 hours after being losing by 28 points to Austin Peay in their OVC opener, the Otahkians took it on the chin by 28 again as Tennessee State romped 82-54 Monday night at the Gentry Center.

So Southeast limped home early this morning with a 2-7 overall record and an 0-2 conference mark. TSU is 5-4 overall, 2-0 in the OVC.

"These were two very difficult games for us to start the conference season," said Arnzen. "Both teams are good and we're playing them on the road. That's difficult, with our youth and all."

The Otahkians can at least take solace in the fact their next three league games will be played at the Show Me Center, beginning Thursday against Tennessee-Martin.

"It certainly will be nice to get back home to play," said Arnzen.

TSU's outstanding inside-outside tandem of Connie Swift and Cari Hassell nearly outscored the Otahkians on its own, both scoring 24 points. Neither played for the Lady Tigers last year as Swift was redshirted and Hassell sat out after transferring from Southern Illinois.

"Tennessee State is much improved this year with Swift playing again and the addition of Hassell," Arnzen said. "They're very talented."

Kim Palmer led the Otahkians with 14 points. Dana Hawkins had 11 and Jamie Koester 10.

As has been the story all season, the Otahkians were hurt by turnovers. They had 28 against TSU. Southeast also shot just 36 percent from the field (21 of 58) and misfired on all 15 3-point attempts.

"It's the same story, turnovers," said Arnzen. "And a lot of them are uncontested. We turn it over so much, we don't get enough shots.

"What's disappointing to me is I don't see a lot of progress in this club."

Actually, after being totally dominated at Austin Peay Saturday -- Southeast trailed by 24 points at halftime and by 36 points in the second half -- the Otakians showed some spunk against TSU.

Once again, the Otahkians got in an early hole. They did grab a 4-0 lead on baskets by Palmer and Hawkins and later led 6-3 after another Palmer bucket.

But Swift scored with just under 16 minutes left in the opening half to put TSU ahead for good at 7-6. The Lady Tigers then really got rolling as they opened up a 37-16 lead late in the first half.

Southeast, however, scored the last six points of the first half to close to within 40-27 at the intermission.

A basket by Sarah Frazier to start the second half made it 40-29, which is as close as Southeast would get.

The Otahkians were still hanging within shouting distance at 53-41 before a 5-0 TSU run began to stretch things out again. And the Lady Tigers made it a total blowout over the final stages of the game.