OTAHKIANS HOPE TO END HOMESTAND WITH A BANG

Despite suffering a 86-77 loss against powerful Eastern Kentucky Saturday, Southeast Missouri State University's women's basketball season still has an opportunity to complete a successful homestand tonight.

In order to do that, the Otahkians must defeat Morehead State, which comes to the Show Me Center for a 7 p.m. tipoff.

Eastern Kentucky, the defending OVC champion, dropped the Otahkians to 6-12 overall and 4-7 in league play with the Saturday victory.

But Southeast, which had knocked off highly-touted Eastern Illinois the previous Saturday, can compile a 2-1 record on this homestand by winning tonight.

"It's a critical game for us," said Otahkian coach Ed Arnzen. "If we can get this one, then we'll have taken two out of three at home before we go out on the road again for three big games."

Even though the Otahkians lost Saturday, Arnzen came away encouraged by their play. They battled powerful Eastern Kentucky tough before a late rally fell short.

"I thought we really played hard and we made a nice comeback," said Arnzen. "I think it's the type of game we can build on."

Morehead is tied for last place last place in the 10-team OVC with a 2-9 record, but the Lady Eagles picked up a stunning 76-56 win at Eastern Illinois Saturday. The Lady Eagles are 6-13 overall.

Before Saturday, Morehead's only conference victory came over Southeast when the Lady Eagles prevailed 98-95 in overtime on Jan. 3 in Morehead, Ky.

The Otahkians held a late three-point lead in that game, but Morehead's Hillary Swisher nailed a 3-pointer with nine seconds left to force overtime.

Swisher averaged just over 10 points per game to pace the Lady Eagles.

"It was a game we could have won and probably should have won," said Arnzen of the previous contest with Morehead. "We kind of feel like we owe them one. But we'll have to play a lot better defense against them this time than we did down there."