OTAHKIANS HOPE TO AVOID A BIG LETDOWN

Coming off a scintillating victory over Eastern Kentucky, Southeast Missouri State University's women's basketball team will look to avoid a letdown tonight.

The Otahkians, riding high after Saturday's 101-93 double-overtime triumph, will take on Morehead State in a 5:30 p.m. Ohio Valley Conference tipoff at the Show Me Center.

"That will be important, to make sure we don't take this team lightly," said Arnzen of the Lady Eagles. "We're playing well and we've got a lot going for us and we just have to make sure we take care of business."

Southeast is certainly flying high right now. With an 8-2 overall record, the Otahkians are off to their best start ever on the Division I-level. And, perhaps more importantly, Southeast is 3-0 in the OVC and tied for first place with Tennessee-Martin.

That's pretty heady stuff for a team picked as the preseason No. 8 squad in the 10-team OVC -- and for a team that won all of eight games during the entire 1997-98 campaign.

"We're definitely surprising some conference teams, and it feels good," said Southeast junior Paula Corder following Saturday's victory.

Corder is one of the players largely responsible for the Otahkians' turnaround this season as well as the big win over Eastern Kentucky.

A 5-foot-10 transfer from Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff, Corder poured in 44 points Saturday and hit a school-record nine 3-point shots. The 44 points are the second-highest total in Southeast history.

Corder, fouled on a 3-point attempt with Southeast trailing 84-81, hit all three free throws with seven seconds left in the first overtime to force a second extra period.

"Paula is a great shooter and a great offensive player," said Arnzen of his prize recruit from last year, who is now averaging nearly 18 points per game. "She's just been having a tremendous season so far."

Arnzen also had high praise for senior Shauna Cook out of Jackson High School. Cook, thrust into the point guard role because Moneik Campbell is out with an upper respiratory infection, responded with nine assists and just one turnover.

"Shauna did a great job at point guard," said Arnzen. "She's been a key player four years for us, a role player, but a key player. I have confidence in her ability."

Morehead State is just 2-8 overall and 0-3 in OVC play.