OTAHKIANS HIT TOUGH STRETCH

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- Southeast Missouri State University women's basketball coach Ed Arnzen probably doesn't know what will bother his team the most -- fatigue or two extremely talented opponents this weekend.

The road-weary Otahkians will take on two of the better squads in the Ohio Valley Conference when they play Middle Tennessee State at 4:30 p.m. today and Tennessee Tech at 5:45 p.m. Monday.

Arnzen is just hoping his squad is fresh enough to challenge the two OVC powers because Southeast has been put through a grueling pace this week.

First, the Otahkians beat Morehead State 75-72 at home Monday night for their first OVC victory.

Then early Tuesday morning, the Otahkians boarded a bus for Tulsa, Okla., where Wednesday night they dropped a 74-50 non-conference decision to Oral Roberts.

After a return trip from Tulsa that saw them arrive back in Cape Girardeau early Thursday morning, the Otahkians were back on the bus Friday afternoon headed for Murfreesboro, Tenn.

"It's been a hectic week but hopefully we'll be able to recover enough," said Arnzen. "We'll be facing two extremely talented clubs this weekend.

MTSU and Tennessee Tech were picked to finish one-two in the OVC preseason poll.

Today's opponent, MTSU, is 5-10 overall and 3-2 in OVC play while Tech is 7-5 overall and 4-1 in the league.

The Otahkians are 3-10 overall and 1-4 in OVC play.

"These are going to be two very difficult games for us," Arnzen said. "Middle Tennessee and Tennessee Tech are both really good."