Otahkians look for win to boost home schedule

A highly anticipated week for Southeast Missouri State University's women's basketball team has not gone well.

Today, the Otahkians (8-5, 1-2 Ohio Valley Conference) will try to salvage it as Morehead State (11-3, 1-2) visits the Show Me Center for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff.

"We really need to get this game," Southeast coach Ed Arnzen said.

Southeast began a four-game homestand Tuesday in an 80-77 loss to preseason OVC favorite Tennessee Tech. Then Thursday the Otahkians fell 94-67 to Eastern Kentucky, picked to finish second in the league.

Morehead State was the preseason choice to finish fourth place, one spot ahead of the Otahkians. The Lady Eagles lost 77-67 Thursday at Eastern Illinois, picked to finish last in the nine-team OVC.

Arnzen likens the Lady Eagles to Eastern Kentucky in their style of play because both teams feature high-powered offenses fueled by the fast break. Morehead State ranks second in the OVC in scoring at 79.6 points a game, behind Eastern Kentucky's 80.4.

"They're of the same caliber as Eastern Kentucky," Arnzen said. "They play the same way. They're very athletic, they have one of the best centers in the league and they shoot well from outside."

That center, 6-foot-2 Tasha Gales, is fifth in the OVC in scoring and fourth in rebounding, averaging 16.4 points and 7.7 boards per game.

Morehead State also has another of the OVC's top 10 scorers in 5-9 junior guard Travece Turner (15.2 ppg), who is third in the league in 3-point shooting (39.3 percent).

Southeast also counters with two of the OVC's 10 leading scorers. Junior forward Lori Chase ranks sixth (15.5 ppg) and senior guard Veronica Benson is 10th (13.4 ppg).

mmishow@semissourian.com

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